THOUGH EXCITED about a possible rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao could not take his mind away from the way his relationship with American promoter Murad Muhammad and business manager Rod Nazario had gone sour.
He?s still trying to find out and that?s one of the reasons why he is going to the United States. He wants to know the truth about, for instance, how much he deserved to get from the proceeds of the pay-per-view income from his last fight against Erik Morales.
Pacquiao talked about this and other things during a free-wheeling discussion with some reporters where he spoke at length about his future plans, the other night about his hobbies and about fellow boxer Luisito Espinosa who is risking life by his continued fighting at age 36.
Pacquiao said he plans to return to action in July against a foe yet to be named and that he might end up fighting Barrera instead of Morales before the year comes to a close.
This developed after Barrera, who he dealt a devastating loss two years ago in Texas, scored a second round knockout win over South African Mzonke Fana Saturday to retain his World Boxing Council super featherweight crown.
Fana is the same person that beat Randy Suico last year. But against Barrera, Fana was an easy target and overmatched against the stylish Mexican.
“Walang kabuhay-buhay,” said Pacquiao of Fana.
Pacquiao said his return bout with Barrera was bolstered by the Mexican?s decision to stay within his current division.
“Mabuti na rin at sinabi ni Barrera na hindi siya aakyat ng timbang at mananatili sa super-featherweight (130 lbs) dahil mukhang maglalaban ulit kami,” he said.
As to Erik Morales?s latest announcement that he is moving up in weight, Pacquiao had this to say: “Alam kasi niya (Morales) na hindi madaling laban pag ako at siya ang nasa ibabaw ng ring. Kaya?t kung gusto niyang umakyat, bahala siya at kami na lang ulit ni Barrera dito (sa 130).
As for his planned US visit, Pacquiao said this was intended to clarify the current status of his finances.
He said he now remembered why Murad Muhammad had steadfastly refused to let him see the fight contract even after he repeatedly demanded that it be shown to him.
“Ang hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit ayaw niyang ipakita ang mga dokumento na ilang beses ko nang nire-request sa kanya,” said Pacquiao
The boxer then mentioned his rights under a recently approved US law.
“Sa Muhammad Ali Boxing Act dapat alam ng boxer ang lahat ng pinapasok ng kanyang manager or promoter. Hindi puwedeng taguan dito. Kapag nag-request ang boxer na bigyan siya ng dokumentong kanyang hinihingi ay dapat ipakita sa kanya at huwag na magdahilan.”
The Ali Act was authored by Sen. John McCain of Arizona. The law protects boxers from being short-changed by promoters and managers.
“Ako ang lumalaban. Ako ang nakikipaglaban. Ako ang nasasaktan sa ibabaw ng ring kaya?t karapatan kong malaman ang kahit anong bagay na may kinalaman sa aking propesyon,” said Pacquiao.
Asked to comment on the alleged connivance between Muhammad and Nazario, Pacquiao had no comment.
“Nagtitiwala naman ako kay Boss (Nazario) pero ang gusto ko ay talagang maliwanagan sa aking mga katanungan. Kasi kapag mayroon akong tinatatong pinapasa-pasa nila ako.”
“Kaya ako na mismo ang nag-desisyon sa aking sarili dahil ayokong magaya sa mga dating boksingero gaya nila Luisito Espinosa na ngayon ay nakaka-awa na. Hindi ba nung panahon niya panay ang kanyang pakinig sa mga advisers niya pero ano ang nangyari?”
Espinosa, who left the country in mid-1998, lives alone in San Francisco. In his last fight in Stockton, California, he suffered brutal knockout loss to Cristobal Cruz of Mexico. The fight earned him $3,000 (about P160,000).
