FOR the first time in three weeks, Murad Muham?mad and Manny Pacquiao were inside the same room, not only meeting face to face, but also seated side by side, with the American promoter pitching the Filipino boxing champion?s next fight against a Thai pretender.
And when Murad?s ended one of his usual long-winded introductions, Pacquiao stood up and his first words in Filipino were: ?Kung hindi ako pinigilan ni mayor, uupakan ko na ito. [If Mayor Freddie Tinga of Taguig did not stop me, I would have hit him [Murad].?
Pacquiao?s surprise remarks, made at the press briefing on Friday at the Pier One Restaurant at The Fort in Taguig announcing his bout against Fahsan 3K Battery on December 11, elicited nervous laughter from the audience. Murad seemed oblivious that it was being done at his expense.
Although said in jest, it also hinted of the lingering ill feelings of Pacquiao toward Murad, who has been in Manila for the past three weeks, for his apparent failure to set up potential big money fights with either Erik Morales or Marco Antonio Barrera.
Peeved over that botched deal, there were reports that Pacquiao was serious in cutting loose from the American boxing impresario who gave him his first crack at international boxing stardom.
Thanks to Murad, the Filipino boxer became the last-minute challenger to Lehlo Ledwaba in June 23, 2001, knocking out the South African defending champion in the sixth round to wrest the International Boxing Federation junior featherweight crown.
Under his wing, Pacquiao has earned nearly $2 million in a contract that is supposed to end in 2005. In his latest fight against Juan Manuel Marquez alone, the local ring icon earned $750,000.
?This is the first time we saw each other face to face since I came here. We?ve never talked directly since I arrived in Manila. This was our first meeting,? the American boxing impresario said.
And with a stature in world proboxing that ranks him equal to fellow promoters like Don King, Bob Arum and Lou Duva, Murad was not about to go out of his way to face his ?prodigal son.?
Enter lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud.
Although not one to usually meddle in others? affairs, Salud, who is well respected in local and international boxing circles, pleaded with Murad not to let go of his apparently wayward ward.
?Mr. Murad knows I have no personal stake in this. But as a Filipino, I told him to be patient with Manny and not let him go, not only for the boxer?s sake, but also for our country.?
The former secretary-general of the World Boxing Council and commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association also was able to talk sense into the Filipino fighter, telling him that sticking to the American promoter would be in Pacquiao?s best interest.
Salud, who used to be the manager of former world champion Gerry Pe?alosa and now handles promising super flyweight Z Gorres, said: ?If Manny broke off from his contract, Murad would likely sue. Litigation would not be in the interest of both parties. Everybody loses.?
As a sign of good faith, Murad, who doesn?t usually promote fights outside of the US, is having his own M and M Promotions taking charge of the boxing program topbilled by Pacquiao and Fahsan dubbed the ?Yanig in Taguig.?
?PacMan? will also be getting a $302,000 purse (roughly P17 million) ?where a fight like this in the US would net him only $50,000,? Murad said.
Salud, who sat on the sidelines keenly observing the proceedings, noted that WBC defending featherweight champion In Ji Chi of South Korea merely got $80,000 in his last title defense.
?So if Pacquiao is getting $302,000, is he is now being overpaid?? Salud asked.
Influential with the world?s major boxing bodies, Murad, to sweeten the pot, said he would ask the International Boxing Federation to rank the winner of the Pacquiao-Fahsan match as the No. 2 contender in its ratings.
And should the card become a box-office hit?which business manager Rod Nazario and Murad are optimistic they can pull off?Pacquiao stands to earn as much as $500,000 under a profit-sharing scheme.
One thing was apparent after yesterday?s show: Murad and Manny?for better or for worse?were back in each other?s arms.
