AFTER GETTING solid assurance on his purse, Manny Pacquiao yesterday signed his contract to fight WBA/IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico again next February.
Pacquiao, the Ring Magazine featherweight champion, quibbled over the terms of an addendum to his mother contract with international promoter Murad Muhammad pertaining to the rematch against Marquez, who escaped with a controversial split draw despite being decked three times by Pacquiao in their first fight in Las Vegas.
The rematch against Marquez was put in jeopardy this week after Pacquiao, as reported by broadcaster Ronnie Nathanielsz, declined to sign the new contract which stated that he would be paid $900,000 for a rematch against Marquez “or a bout against another credible opponent.”
Pacquiao was displeased over what had happened when the promised $1.5 million fee to fight Erik Morales last year was reduced to $700,000 after he ended up fighting Marquez last May.
The RP ring hero had refused to sign the fight contract delivered by his business manager, Rod Nazario, to GenSan on Friday where Pacquiao celebrated his 26th birthday.
Pacquiao, however, felt assured yesterday following a change in terms on the two-fight contract.
The phrase “a bout against another credible opponent” has been changed to “a bout against an opponent acceptable to HBO.”
This means that, if and when any of the two prospective Pacquiao opponents-Marquez and Morales-couldn’t fight, HBO will decide on a credible opponent.
HBO directly pays the purses of the fighters in major cards it presents.
“Everything has been clarified, and all parties-Pacquiao, HBO, Murad-agreed to the terms,” Nathanielsz, who helped revive the dwindling negotiations, told the Inquirer.
The same contract stipulates that Pacquiao would be paid $1.750 million to fight Morales in July.
HBO Sports senior vice president Kery Davis said the clause “credible opponent” was to ensure that Pacquiao doesn’t lose the date and the chance to fight someone else for the same purse.
Murad, who was in Manila recently, explained that only HBO would decide on whether or not the substitute opponent is acceptable.
What happened last year was, after Pacquiao had beaten Marco Antonio Barrera, the promised fight against Morales was suddenly scrapped.
Pacquiao was supposed to have received $1.5 million had he fought Morales.
He was instead forced to fight Marquez and was paid a purse reduced by more than half.
By Murad’s reckoning, Marquez was not a credible opponent.
Marquez, a superb counter-puncher and master ringman, proved Murad wrong.
Pacquiao said he lost $800,000 only because of one man’s wrong opinion.
At least it’s now HBO, holder of the money bag, and not Murad which will decide whether or not Pacquiao’s opponent is credible or not.
