MANNY PACQUIAO revealed yesterday that he has lost full confidence in his US promoter and this is the reason why he is holding back on signing a two-fight contract although the contract promises riches beyond his wildest dreams.
Pacquiao stands to gain no less than $2.65 million (about P148 million) in the two-fight contract dangled by Murad Muhammad, but the Filipino boxing idol demurred saying the fine print doesn?t guarantee the rich payout.
The contract calls for a fight against Juan Manuel Marquez on Feb. 26 with Pacquiao receiving $900,000 (about P50.4 million), followed by a fight against Erik Morales sometime in July with Pacquiao guaranteed a windfall of $1.75 million (about P98 million).
“Hindi ko pinipirmahan kasi hindi naman sinunod yung request ko,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao?s beef is a clause in the document that says that after he disposes off Barrera and a fight with Erik Morales is not consummated, meaning another fighter other than Morales is tapped, he will not get the guaranteed prize of $1.75 million.
Pacquiao said this was unfair and this exactly was what happened a year ago when, after he beat Marco Antonio Barrera, the fight with Morales who was supposed to be his next assignment with a prize of $1.5 million, was suddenly scrapped.
“Ang request ko lang naman ay huwag baguhin ang premyo ko kahit na hindi si Morales ang makakaharap.”
Pacquiao said his hesitation stemmed from his experience early this year when Muhammad failed to secure a fight against Morales who was supposed to be his opponent after Barrera. He said that had the fight against Morales pushed through early this year or late this year, he would have gotten no less than $1.5 million
“Pero merong nakalagay sa kontrata na oras na hindi si Morales at hindi credible ang opponent ko, mababa ang tatatangapin kong premyo,” he said.
Because Morales was not available, he was made to face Marquez last May 8, who, by Muhammad?s reckoning, was not a credible opponent.
“Ngayon paano niya (Muhammad) paliliwanag na hindi credible opponent si Marquez? Dalawang titulo ang hawak niya, WBA at IBF, at nakita naman natin na magaling talaga at siya hindi ordinary opponent.”
Because the contract specified that he fight Morales to get the $1.5 million prize, Pacquiao said he lost a big a mount because of that particular clause.
“Nawalan ako ng $800,000 sa fight na ?yon,” said Pacquiao who only got $700,000 in the Marquez fight that ended on a 12-round split draw.
Muhammad?s new contract was hand-carried to GenSan by his business manager Rod Nazario last week as Pacquiao was celebrating his 26th birthday, perhaps hoping that in the heat of the revelry Pacquiao would simply grab a pen and sign the contract.
Pacquiao asked that the contract be returned and that Muhammad try to improve it.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao arrived in Manila late Monday night from Davao and yesterday morning went to the Manila City Hall for a courtesy call on Mayor Lito Atienza.
