There?s a new financial planning tool for prizefighters.
Maybe you?ve heard of the Individual Retirement Account. Then there is the Roth version of the IRA.
Other Americans, as retirement looms, try to sock away what they can into Uni K?s, 401K?s, SEPs and other setups which can shield their hard-earned savings.
But, in boxing, we have the MPRA and it?s open to all regardless of nationality. You can be British like Richard John Hatton or you can be a Mexican citizen like Antonio Margarito.
Even a Son of Ghana named Joshua Clottey has taken advantage of this Manny Pacquiao Retirement Account.
Sugar Shame Mosley just extracted at least $5 million for his golden (but not Golden Boy) years, the time when he will be able to snowboard all winter up at scenic Big Bear Lake.
Now, if a Tuesday or Wednesday meeting in LA goes well as Pacman promoter Bob Arum and his lawyer huddle, it looks like another Mexican national, the familiar Juan Manuel Marquez will sign up for his third installment of MPRA funding.
Oscar De La Hoya banked some MPRA money and quit boxing.
Hatton did the same and Clottey, Margarito and Mosley may follow suit.
Pacman ends the careers of foes but he doesn?t send them packing with empty pockets.
Funny thing, though, about these forced retirements caused by those PED-fueled fists of the Pinoy Idol, critics like to say that Pacquiao?s opponents are/were washed up shells of their former selves when he pummeled them.
This makes me laugh and it?s easy to tell it causes Pacquiao no concern.
Sure, Oskie was ?shot? when he fought Manny but how do we ignore he outpointed crafty journeyman Stevie Forbes only six months prior? Or that, only a year before his points victory over Forbes, ODLH lost as split decision to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather? Advertisement
Or, in terms of Hatton, that this ?washed up hobo? was able to decision Juan Lazcano and stop Paulie Malignaggi in between his Dec. 8, 2007, TKO 10 loss to Mayweather and his May 2, 2009, two round wipeout by Pacman?
It?s called revisionist history and Pacquiao has, I think, gotten used to it.
Certain people won?t give the Man-ny credit, good thing he hauls away huge piles of cash.
Manny gets the cash and they have to carry away his fallen, thoroughly vanquished foes.
You could just bill Pacquiao?s coming fights as ?Vic Versus Pacquiao,? the ?vic? being short for victim.
Unless and until that 2012 starry night when Pacman inevitably fights reluctant ?Money? May.
(Broken Record Marley keeps changing the year for Mayweather-Pacquiao in case you haven?t noticed.)
And if Pacquiao whips Mayweather, drops him from the ranks of the unbeaten?
Crank up the cranks. The old, bitter grouches will have a ready line.
Mayweather? He was too old.
Floyd Jr. was a senior citizen, in boxing years, when he tried Pacquiao.
Once again, Pacquiao won?t get the credit.
But I doubt he?ll refuse the $50 million in cash.
As for Mayweather, then he?ll really be rich.
Do not be surprised if Floyd opens up a chain of roller skating rinks.
And yet another will be living his dream thanks to his MPRA.
Don’t go to your retirement home without it.
