Consensus world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has more than a million reasons to be thankful in celebrating his 26th birthday with family and friends in General Santos City today.
Pacquiao pocketed $300,000 for his four-round disposal of Fahsan 3-K Battery in Taguig last Saturday and will earn $900,000 in his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez on Feb. 26 in either Reno or Las Vegas. If he beats Marquez, Pacquiao is guaranteed a $1.75 million purse to face Erik Morales in July.
New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad said Pacquiao could bankroll at least $3.5 Million in combined purses next year if he repulses Marquez and Morales to set up a showdown with newly-crowned World Boxing Council superfeatherweight titlist Marco Antonio Barrera in November.
That will mean a minimum of P200 million for Pacquiao if he wipes out the three Mexicans. The cash register could ring up another P50 million if International Boxing Federation No. 1 featherweight contender Rocky Juarez is squeezed into Pacquiao?s calendar as a tune-up opponent in September before the Barrera return bout.
Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario flew to General Santos City yesterday with the fight contracts for Marquez and Morales.
Money is raining on Pacquiao?s parade. No other Filipino athlete has earned as much in sports.
A month ago, Pacquiao was paid a cool P1 Million for a day?s work in Subic to appear as a co-host with actor Robin Padilla in taping a reality boxing TV show scheduled for airing in February on the ABS CBN network.
Open tryouts were held to select 11 amateur fighters for the series. Among those who tried out were a La Salle student, Philippine Navy boxers and mixed martial arts fighters from Dumaguete and Sultan Kudarat.
On the day of the taping, Pacquiao was up at 4 a.m. to jog with the 11 fighters only two of whom kept pace. He shared training tips with the fighters and did opening spiels for several episodes as the cameras rolled. Pacquiao also learned a few mixed martial arts tricks, like how to execute the rear naked choke hold.
When his pro boxing career is over, Pacquiao hinted he might try his luck in mixed martial arts. He promised to attend the next URCC event in April.
Mixed martial arts expert Del Bacho and actress Vina Morales were the commentators for the “reality” fights which were refereed by Hall of Famer Alvin Aguilar. Prizes for the winner include cash, a car and a trip to witness Pacquiao?s next fight in the US.
Pacquiao was accompanied in Subic by his wife Jinkee and trainer Buboy Fernandez. His work was over by 3 p.m. so excluding two hours for breakfast and lunch, he was paid over P100,000 an hour for taping his part in the series.
Aside from picking up extra cash to appear on TV, Pacquiao also pockets a hefty sum for endorsing No Fear, Alaxan, Darlington socks and Ginebra San Miguel, among others.
For his fight against Fahsan, he wore Pony shoes and sported a Red Bull logo tattooed on his left bicep. His trunks were emblazoned by the No Fear and Red Bull logos.
Pacquiao has come a long way from his humble beginnings in Bukidnon where he was born and General Santos City where he was raised. The second of four children, he studied at the Saway Elementary School and reached only up to Grade 6 before deciding to make a living out of boxing.
