GENERAL SANTOS-Citing numerous breaches in his existing contract with US-based promoter Murad Muhammad, featherweight king Manny Pacquiao declared himself a free agent Thursday in a bid to redirect his young but stagnating career to greater heights.
“I am no longer happy at how things are shaping up with my career. I am young, I am healthy and I am at the top of the featherweight division but I cannot even get a decent fight. Something is wrong somewhere,” said Pacquiao.
“I am firing my promoter Murad Muhammad after our existing contract has been breached on several counts,” said Pacquiao, who also said that he has already lost confidence in Muhammad, whose contract is supposed to expire on Feb. 2005.
Pacquiao, 25, acknowledged as the People’s Champion by the prestigious Ring Magazine, fought only once this year, settling for a controversial draw with WBA/IBF title holder Juan Manuel Marquez.
“I have given them enough time to negotiate and find me a worthy opponent and they have failed not just once. I have been training for almost a month now but nothing concrete and substantial has come up that is why I am declaring myself a free agent from hereon,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao went back to the Philippines unannounced Sunday in disgust and frustration over broken promises. He begged to discuss the numerous points which would have voided his contract with Muhammad.
“The only thing that I should be doing now is to concentrate and prepare for my next fight but instead, I have to attend to several other matters. I am worried that ring rust might catch up on me. All I want is to fight,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao was supposed to lock horns with Marquez in a blockbuster rematch but the match was shelved for February next year. Instead, Marquez fought and won by a lackluster unanimous decision over Orlando Salido last month.
A rematch with dethroned People’s champion Marco Antonio Barrera was also considered a “done deal” but Muhammad likewise failed to seal it for Pacquiao after talks with Golden Boy Promotions fizzled out due to terms disagreements.
Another huge battle between Pacquiao and super-featherweight champion Erik Morales loomed but in the end, it was Morales and Barrera inking a megabuck deal on Nov. 27.
“This decision was one of the hardest things that I have to make. I owe Mr. Muhammad many things in my career but I guess in this case, we have to move on with our lives,” said Pacquiao.
“I hope he finally accepts his failures and that we part ways peacefully. He had more than his fair share in all my winnings and I know that my decision is just,” said Pacquiao.
