In a major development in the light of Juan Manuel Marquez’s continued insistence on a $1.5 Million purse, organizers are now reportedly willing to go straight into a more juicy and lucrative match-up involving two titans, as reigning Ring Magazine featherweight king Manny Pacquiao is now penciled in to face Mexican legend Erik Morales on March 19 in an HBO pay-per-view event.
Boxingtalk’s Greg Leon, in his report, has indicated that after Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia broke the news of the collapse of the eagerly anticipated February 26 rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez, the Filipino ring icon is now planning to move up to 130 lbs to rumble with Morales, who until recently held the WBC junior lightweight crown.
“The usually talkative Murad Muhammad surprisingly had no comment when we spoke to him last night,” Leon wrote. “Top Rank’s Bob Arum and Todd DuBoef were unavailable for immediate comment when Boxingtalk called them on the cellular phones. Like Muhammad, Top Rank PR guy Lee Samuels had nothing to say,” Leon added.
Maxboxing’s Steve Kim, ciing industry sources, said “the match is being made by Top Rank to put Marco Antonio Barrera and Golden Boy Promotions in a bind. With Morales and Pacquiao facing each other, Barrera finds himself for the time being without a big-name opponent. Perhaps he can face Marquez, who sees himself on the outside looking in again.”
Middle of last week, promoter Murad Muhammad had gone to Las Vegas to confer with Top Rank people regarding the Pacquiao-Marquez February 26 bout, but apparently, both camps were not able to resolve Marquez’s purse demand.
“Bob [Arum] and I are trying to straighten out Marquez’ situation. Marquez took the stand that he believes that Pacquiao should not be paid as much as him, or more,” Muhammad told Fightnews.
In the same report, Murad confirmed that a July bout with Erik Morales is indeed in the works, but said a switch in opponents from Marquez to Erik Morales was “not discussed in today’s meeting.” The meeting was supposed to resume last Friday. The American promoter, however, cautioned: “If there is a fight with Erik Morales that is offered to me, Pacquiao and I would happy to take it.”
Nobody knew what transpired in the meetings that ensued Friday, but apparently, Pacquiao-Morales on March 19 topped the agenda.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is set to officially start his rigid preparation today under Freddie Roach at the latter’s Wild Card Gym on Vine Street in Hollywood. Pacquiao left the country last Saturday evening accompanied by Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez.
