IF HBO, Golden Boy Promotions and M&M Sports agree, the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera rematch will be shown on pay-per-view sometime in November, The Bulletin learned yesterday.
In the event all parties concur, this will mark the first time a Filipino boxer will headline a card on pay television.
Previous Pacquiao?s fights against South African Lehlo Ledwaba and Colombian Jorge Eliecer Julio were also on pay-per-view, but only because these were underneath such marquee matches like Oscar dela Hoya against Javier Castillejo in 2001 and Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson in 2002.
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive officer Richard Schaefer also revealed that the undercard might feature a fight involving featherweight Injin Chi of Korea and super-bantam Oscar Larios of Mexico in a battle of World Boxing Council (WBC) champions.
The Los Angeles-based Schaefer said the winner of the Chi-Larios battle at 126 lbs will be pitted against the victor of the Pacquiao-Barrera rematch.
Schaefer has the blessings of Golden Boy Promotions owner Oscar dela Hoya to negotiate on his behalf.
The last time Pacquiao and Barrera fought, the Filipino buzzsaw stopped the legendary Mexican in the 11th round before 10,700 fans at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.
Barrera resurrected his career over the weekend after mauling the durable Paulie Ayala in the 10th round at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Pacquiao is coming off a controversial 12-round split draw with Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
It is unsure, though, if Rod Nazario, Pacquiao?s business manager, will agree on a November date since he has made it known that he prefers the fight to take place in September or October.
Pacquiao is expected to arrive today from a five-day vacation in Bangkok with his wife Jinkee, sons Emmanuel Jr. and Michael Stephen, trainer Buboy Fernandez and team Pacquiao members Ramon Lainez and Gerry Garcia.
Nazario opted to stay in Manila.
