WHEN WORD got out that Marco Antonio Barrera earned million in his rematch with Manny Pacquiao, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum was asked by an interviewer from overseas just how much did the Filipino southpaw get from that Oct. 6 slugfest.
“Manny got much more than that,” Arum told the Bulletin late Monday night (Tuesday, lunchtime in Manila) when requested to give out details about Pacquiao?s purse and other perks from the fight held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Based on the official fight contract Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) submitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Pacquiao and Barrera reportedly were paid $ 2 million each although both fighters had provisions in their respective contracts that they are entitled to cuts in the pay-per-view sales.
Last week, Arum revealed that there were approximately 350,000 buys of the $ 44.95 show on HBO.
As this developed, Arum also disclosed that they would know soon if Pacquiao is indeed staying at superfeatherweight (130 lbs) or is interested in jumping up to lightweight (135 lbs).
Arum has penciled March 15 as the date of Pacquiao?s 2008 debut.
“If Manny decides to fight as a lightweight, (World Boxing Council lightweight champion) David Diaz is available as he has already come to terms with us,” said Arum, noting that a Pacquiao-Diaz duel will have Las Vegas as venue.
Diaz is best remembered by Filipino fight fans as the rugged slugger who sent Erik Morales into retirement last August in Chicago.
“If it?s one of the 130-pounders, it?s going to be in Macau,” said Arum, who is looking forward to another joint promotion with the Oscar De La Hoya-controlled GBP.
“We are getting along well,” said Arum.
Still, Arum said Pacquiao will have the final say on the choice of opponent.
“It?s up to Manny and (trainer) Freddie (Roach) and I will talk with Freddie tomorrow about this,” said Arum.
“If it?s in Las Vegas, it?s going to be at the Mandalay Bay and if it?s in Macau it could be in The Venetian Hotel because it has a big venue (for boxing) and it could be against one of the 130-pounders,” added Arum.
Juan Manuel Marquez (Mexico) and Rocky Juarez (US) are facing off on Nov. 3 in Arizona, while Joan Guzman (Dominican Republic) and Humberto Soto (Mexico) are colliding on Nov. 17 in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao told one of his advisers, lawyer Franklin Gacal, that he will stay at super-featherweight although there still remains that possibility that he will move up to lightweight.
Gacal said he talked with Pacquiao, who turns 29 on Dec. 17, two days ago and was told about the decision to remain at 130 lbs at least for his first fight in 2008.
