As Rep. Manny Pacquiao celebrates his 32nd birthday today, the world awaits whom he will anoint as his next opponent but insider reports are saying there might be no announcement at all tonight or not until after Christmas.
Several reports however are pointing to a Shane Mosley sweepstakes win for very good reasons.
Mosley, although already past his prime, offers little dispute over fight contract provisions, now a primordial concern of Pacquiao Team sans a Floyd Mayweather Jr. blockbuster fight.
So why is Team Pacquiao not giving in and timing today?s occasion in announcing the clincher?
Blame maybe a couple or two gray areas in the dollar and cents Team Pacquiao wants secured properly.
One thing is certain, according to my unimpeachable source, Manny will be guaranteed the biggest pay check of his still steadily rising career as boxing world?s biggest draw ? bigger than what he earned in defeating Antonio Margarito.
Although how much Manny exactly earned in the Margarito fight will never be publicly admitted, it is believed he earned no less than US$25 million in gross total.
Pacquiao man Friday Michael Koncz likewise confirmed what this corner has been suggesting all along. Manny will take it easy and pick opponents that will give him the best deals. Deals, of course, include fight outcome and the pile of dollars that lands on the table.
Koncz said they will take it one fight at a time and left open the possibility of Manny seeking yet another record to add to his sterling and unheard feat of winning eight world titles in as many weight divisions.
He said Mosley appears to have the inside track but that, at the end of the day, it will be Manny who will sign the contract.
Top Rank?s Bob Arum, who has yet to announce the final opponent of Pacquiao, reportedly brought at least three fight contracts for three possible opponents.
The 79-year old boxing promoter wants to go home with a Pacquiao deal. But that may not come.
Again, however, with Manny, nothing is certain.
But my guess is that Arum will have his deal when he is already in the United States.
