Fight now, worry later.
Since Fahsan Por Thawatchai is already on the plate, Dong Secuya, boxing expert and web-developer of www.mannypacquiao.ph, suggested that Pacquiao should just deal with the Thai and worry about ?extra-ring affairs? later.
?If they are playing this out as a tune-up match for Manny?s next fight, then Murad [Muhammad] is right to pick this type of opponent for Manny,? said Secuya.
Secuya added that whatever Muhammad?s misgivings as promoter, Pacquiao should learn to look at the bigger picture.
?I think there are certain things in boxing that are beyond people?s control,? Secuya said.
?Murad, I feel, has done his part to land Manny the good fights that he deserves, but he just couldn?t come up with the goods. Dapat ma-realize ni Manny na that?s just the nature of the boxing business.?
Por Thawatchai was the last name that finally agreed to challenge Pacquiao after a string of big names and unknowns had begged off meeting with the GenSan southpaw.
Muhammad has received flak after talks with champions like Juan Manuel Marquez and Eric Morales had failed.
Published news items had even said that Pacquiao had fired Muhammad, fueling stories that the two were not in good terms.
?Murad did everything he could but, well, he was the one left holding an empty bag, so to speak,? Secuya said.
?Some people have told me to hang in there with Manny, not to quit on him,? Muhammad said in an interview with Today last week.
?Now it?s up to him if he wants to go on his own and forget about the people who helped him to be where he is now.?
Muhammad advised Pacquiao, who stands to earn $300,000 (P16.8 million) ?to look past the money and think about [his December fight] as something bigger than [Pacquiao].?
Fight aficionados have summoned the country to support the bout?Pacquiao?s first in Metro Manila in 19 months?following negative opinion that called the December 11 bout a mismatch.
In a news conference on Friday, lawyer Rudy Salud, founding secretary-general of the World Boxing Council, encouraged Filipinos to rally behind Pacquiao?s fight against Por Thawatchai.
Salud also commended Muhammad for his handling of Pacquiao?s fight promotions.
Secuya, whose website is up for two prizes in the seventh Philippine Web Awards later this month, said that should Pacquiao decide not to re-hire Muhammad when the promoter?s contract expires in February, those behind Pacquiao should ?let his decision be.?
?Para sa kabutihan ni Manny din ?yun. In the long run, if he can?t be comfortable with the people he works with, it won?t be good for him,? Secuya said.
?We should, and especially those who say are concerned with him, give him the choice because it?s for Manny to decide. Everything revolves around who the champ is.?
