With Juan Manuel Marquez insisting on a $1.5 million purse demand for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, handlers of the Filipino boxing champion has reportedly shifted its sights on Erik Morales for a possible March 19 match on HBO?s pay-per-view.
News of the Pacquiao-Morales fight flooded the various boxing websites yesterday after the highly-anticipated Marquez-Pacquiao rematch hit a snag following the Mexican champion?s demand that he be paid $1.5 million for their Feb. 26 bout.
Greg Leon reported on the BoxingTalk.com that after the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia broke the news of the collapse of the rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez, the Filipino ring icon is now planning to move up to 130 lbs to take on Morales, the former WBC junior lightweight champion who was dethroned by Marco Antonio Barrera in a classic clash last year.
“The usually talkative Murad Muhammad surprisingly had no comment when we spoke to him last night,” Leon wrote, referring to Pacquiao?s US-based promoter, adding that Top Rank?s Bob Arum and Todd DuBoef were also unavailable for comment.
Maxboxing.com?s Steve Kim, citing industry sources, said “the match is being made by Top Rank to put Barrera and Golden Boy Promotions in a bind. With Morales and Pacquiao facing each other, Barrera finds himself for the time being without a big-name opponent. Perhaps he can face Marquez, who sees himself on the outside looking in again.”
This came about after Murad met with Top Rank bigwigs in Las Vegas last week to firm up the Pacquiao-Marquez Feb. 26 bout. But apparently, both camps were not able to resolve Marquez?s purse demand.
“Bob (Arum) and I are trying to straighten out Marquez? situation. Marquez took the stand that he believes that Pacquiao should not be paid as much as him, or more,” Murad told Fightnews.
Pacquiao, who demolished Barrera before the Mexican fans in 2003 then fought Marquez to a controversial split draw last May, is set to receive $900,000 while Marquez will only get $750,000. ? Dante Navarro
