Promoter Murad Muhammad said yesterday that ?the contracts are being finalized? for the planned Dec. 4 bout at the Global City in Taguig between Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao and World Boxing Organization Intercontinental champion Gairy St. Clair of Australia.
Murad told Viva Sports/Manila Standard that in the meantime, ?it would be advisable? for Pacquiao to ?stay focused.? This is in obvious reaction to reports that Team Pacquiao was unhappy with Murad and that the Filipino champion had no plans of extending his contract, which supposedly expires next February.
Roberto ?Boying? Nazario, the son of Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario, who handles his father?s business in the US, told Viva Sports, in an overseas telephone conversation, that Murad?s contract was still ?live? and he had two more Pacquiao fights although he admitted that the boxer was ?very frustrated.? Pacquiao?s frustration was heightened when he asked Murad for a $25,000 advance and was given only $15,000 after having to wait, with Rod Nazario himself having to contribute $5,000.
The promoter, who helped Pacquiao get the breaks that launched his career in the US, clarified that Mayor Freddie Tinga of Taguig ?has no financial input? for the Pacquiao-St. Clair fight but that he ?welcomes this bout, he will host the fight and welcomes us to his city.?
Murad said ?our associates will be announced when Rod Nazario and I arrive in the Philippines in a week or so, God willing.? Earlier reports said Murad had been able to get a group to put up $650,000 to help underwrite some of the costs of staging the fight in Manila.
Mayor Tinga himself expressed the local government?s willingness for the municipality to serve as the venue for Pacquiao?s next bout and promised to ?lend full support for the project.?
A news release from the Taguig Public Information Office said: ?Considering that Pacquiao has earned the respect of millions of Filipinos for having brought prestige and honor to our country, holding his next boxing match in Taguig will be a big boost to the town?s continuing development. The bout will be a good promotion for Taguig and this will surely put Taguig on the map.?
Meantime, Murad, reacting to stories about his being junked by Pacquiao and the members of Team Pacquiao, retorted ?what else is new? Controversy is what makes our sport the sweet science.? He added: ?We will educate the people how boxing legends are made with loyalty, trust and bonding with the management and promoter who orchestrated the path of success from the beginning. History proves that unity is the key to success.?
