Solar Sports is not going to hand Manny Pacquiao to ABS-CBN on a silver platter, for now.
Solar Sports Chief Operating Officer Peter Chan Liong said the company will exert everything legally possible to “impose our rights” over Pacquiao, who went on national television on Wednesday telling the public that he has decided to team up anew with ABS-CBN.
“We have a live contract,” said Chan Liong, who also brushed off allegations that the TV blocktimer has financial obligations to Pacquiao, hence the decision by the boxer to transfer.
“We?ve completely settled all our obligations with him,” said Chan Liong. “Our lawyers are working on what other legal steps to undertake (aside from filing a TRO).”
Despite the bleak outlook, Chan Liong is not discounting the possibility that a settlement is reached between the parties involved although at this juncture, that is not high on the company?s priorities.
Aside from owning the rights to broadcast Pacquiao?s fights on Philippine television, Solar Sports also has the authority to show it in movie theaters across the country as part of the contract it signed with the famed Filipino boxer.
In fact, Solar Sports has already come out with advertisements on the leading broadsheets about the showing of the fight on movie theaters.
One of the major obstacles is a court injunction from Solar Sports, a move that could prevent the showing by ABS-CBN of Pacquiao?s fight with Ricky Hatton on May 2 (May 3 in the Philippines) from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao?s last five fights ? against Jorge Solis, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya ? have all been shown by Solar Sports on GMA 7, which also has a contract with Pacquiao as its talent in one of its entertainment shows.
