Consensus world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao quietly slipped back home yesterday morning after training nearly a month in Los Angeles for a fight that is still up in the air.
It wasn?t certain if Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario, who is in Florida, knew of the sudden return. Nazario had planned to meet Pacquiao in Los Angeles this Friday before flying back to Manila.
Nazario?s associate Ramon (Moy) Lainez said he was shocked to learn of Pacquiao?s return from his wife Jinkee who flew in from General Santos City to rendezvous with her husband in Manila.
Pacquiao left here last Sept. 8 with brother Bobby, superflyweight Z Gorres and trainer Buboy Fernandez to work out at Freddie Roach?s gym in Los Angeles. New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad told Pacquiao he could choose from three opponents?Jose Luis Castillo, Joel Casamayor and Diego Corrales?for his next fight when negotiations for a rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera fell through.
But Muhammad?s candidates were unacceptable because they campaign in two weight categories over Pacquiao. Castillo and Corrales are both world lightweight champions while Casamayor is a former superfeatherweight titlist now fighting in the 135-pound division. Besides, Muhammad couldn?t even confirm if any of the fighters would be available or even interested to face Pacquiao.
A few months ago, Muhammad was baited by rival promoter Bob Arum into aborting talks for a Barrera rematch to open negotiations for a fight against WBC superfeatherweight champion Erik Morales. Then, Arum?who represents Morales?dropped Muhammad like a hot potato and signed up Barrera instead. The trick left Pacquiao out in the cold.
Without a US date firming up, Muhammad offered Australian-based Guyana stylist Gairy St. Clair as an opponent in a Manila bout on Nov. 27 or Dec. 4. Muhammad claimed he has received a $650,000 down payment from an undisclosed Filipino financier for the proposed International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight title eliminator.
Lainez said nothing is confirmed and Pacquiao probably came back home in disgust because “it?s hard to train without an opponent.” Lainez added that Muhammad could be bluffing his way to an extension of his contract which expires in December.
“Inipit ni Arum si Murad,” said Lainez. “Naisahan siya. I think Murad is trying his best to confirm a fight kasi expiring na ang kanyang contract. He promised a six-fight deal for over $2.5 Million but hindi siya naka-deliver so strictly speaking, Manny can already terminate his contract. But may utang na loob si Rod kay Murad because after all, he got Manny his crack at the IBF title against (Lehlo) Ledwaba.”
Lainez said he suspects Pacquiao is out to erase the mistakes of the past and start clean with new contracts. Aside from Muhammad, another contract due to expire is Marty Elorde?s. Lainez said Elorde?s five-year deal as manager ends next February. Elorde has offered a P5 Million signing bonus and a P20,000 monthly allowance to extend their agreement. He previously gave a P1 Million signing bonus and a P10,000 monthly allowance.
“Pinagiisipan ni Manny kung anong gagawin niya,” said Lainez. “Kung P5 Million signing bonus lang, wala yan. That?s less than $100,000. Kayang-kaya niyang kitain yan sa isang laban. Ang hinahanap ni Manny sa isang manager ay yung nagmamalasakit sa kanya. Dapat sama-samang naghihirap. Yung laban kay (Juan Manuel) Marquez, ang share ni Marty umabot ng P4 Million. But ano ang kanyang participation sa laban?”
Lainez said Pacquiao now earns about 60 percent of his purses after paying out shares to Elorde, Nazario and his trainers. Lainez said Pacquiao deserves at least a 70 percent cut.
Lainez said raising funds for a Manila fight is difficult because of the country?s economic situation and restrictions in sponsorship expenses on government institutions because of austerity measures. He said Muhammad?s disclosure of a $650,000 down payment was a surprise but if the money is in the bag, he?d like to see it.
Lainez said Pacquiao was recently given a P650,000 advance by Nazario to finance the construction of a five-door apartment building in General Santos City.
Before the Marquez fight, Lainez said the plan was for Pacquiao to retire if he could fight Barrera in a rematch for $2 Million, Morales for P1.5 Million and then-unbeaten Acelino Freitas for $3 Million. But the dream went up in smoke after Marquez held Pacquiao to a draw and Freitas was stopped by Corrales.
Lainez speculated that Pacquiao would enter politics after retiring from the ring.
