It has become common practice for any promotion to try and stir excitement by way of controversy. Many times it has been pointed out that any kind of publicity usually works to the benefit of an enterprise.
This is all good if there are no victims to these naughty little flame-stokers. But more often than not, somebody gets hurt and that?s when it gets really ugly.
Take for instance the news that came out in the highly-popular boxing websites philboxing.com and mannypacquiao.ph (pacland) that there was a “Pinoy insider” who had leaked information to an American website writer that Manny Pacquiao was unhappy with the purse he was getting for his fight with Marco Antonio Barrera.
According to the writer, his informant revealed that Pacquiao wants to hold out for more money or else he will look for reasons to put the fight off. This after learning that welterweight Ricky Hatton was going to be paid $ 8 million to go up against champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. in December.
The Pacquiao camp purportedly feels that Manny is the more exciting fighter, that he draws the crowds and therefore should get “Mayweather type” purses (there was a report that “Pretty Boy” snagged $ 26 million in his last fight against Oscar De La Hoya. Wow!).
The last point is good, and to many of us valid, but the entire tale is highly incredible and puts Manny in a bad light. In the first place, he had already consented to the fight, the contracts signed. He has been training like a man possessed and if reports from Cebu are to be believed, giving up so much just to see this fight through? no more nocturnal activities or trips to the casino or any of that stuff which is anathema to concerned boxing fans.
Manny has come out to debunk the report and his lawyer Jeng Gacal is livid at the insult, to the point that he has challenged the writer to a fistfight.
If indeed there is a “Pinoy insider,” then he is doing an injustice not only to Pacquiao but to the millions of Filipinos who wait in awe, fall on their knees regularly for divine intervention and sacrifice hard-earned pesos just to witness Manny Pacquiao in action.
And if that story was just concocted to ride on the popularity of the fight, then that author owes Manny Pacquiao and the Filipino people an apology.
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Word from Cagayan de Oro City is that things are at a frenzy in the “City of Golden Friendship” as preparations for the first ever Vismin Boxing Cup are underway. Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar S. Moreno is at the forefront with his energetic project committee headed by Mayor Clint Puertas, Eden Huang, Val Rosabal and others leaving no stone unturned for the professional boxing event on October 6 at the Mindanao Polytechnic State College.
Although the main event is not part of the competition, it is highly-anticipated by fans in the region as the main protagonist is a native of Cagayan de Oro ? a young man by the name of Milan Melindo ? who will vie for the WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight championship against Thai boxer Naupayak Sakkririn.
Ronnie Nathanielsz, the prolific sports commentator/writer who has seen his share of pugilists over the years, was full of praises for Melindo whom he saw in a sparring session in Cebu against Donnie Nietes, who himself will be going for a world championship on Sept. 30 at the Waterfront in Lahug.
Nathanielsz says Melindo more than held his own against Nietes, and impressed onlookers with his quick moves and flashy combinations. We have also seen the talented CDO native in action in the past and predict greater things to come for him.
Meanwhile, several boxing managers have been inquiring about the possibility of getting a slot in the Vismin Cup. Unfortunately the card is already full, and we will have to pencil them in for the next staging, possibly in the Visayas.
We?re glad to report that several corporations have pledged their support for our first project as a boxing promoter, which aims to create even more interest in our dedicated boxers who are doing us proud, in the tradition of Manny Pacquiao. We are heartened to know that many realize that not only Manny deserves their support and attention.
Thank you all and see you around!
