MANILA, Philippines ? Las Vegas wants it. Texas wants it. The Philippines needs it.
Can we afford Thrilla in Manila, part 2?
When you see Hermie Rivera prowling Malate?s coffeeshops, you know he?s back to sniff and taste the air, waiting for his Malaca?ang insider to tell him what the weather?s like up there, if the boss is in the mood to talk, plan, dream a hyphen between Pacquiao and Mayweather.
Mr. Rivera, himself looking like a retired boxer with the mandatory scars and world-weary gait, is certain that the President will listen with a third ear. ?Nobody?s gonna dip their fingers into the ?kaban ng bayan,? it?s the promoters who?ll take charge of producing the fight of the century,? he says with more flair than a promising politician.
Problems with the promoters Bob Arum and Oscar de la Hoya? Like a god sweeping the tsunami back to the ocean with his hands, Hermie declares, ?We?ll let Don King come in and that will be that.?
It would be easier if our pound-for-pound champ hung up his gloves after disfiguring Shane Mosley next month. (That way, no contracts to be breached.) It would be fun to watch Mayweather melt at the sight of a 50 percent discount off his asking fee. It would be glorious to hear Pacman proclaim the fight?s on, let the devil worry about the details and the fine print.
