MANNY Pacquiao is worried that the P2.5 million worth of general admission tickets that he plans to give away for free—so that more people could watch his bout with Mexican fighter Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2—might cause a stampede.
Pacquiao, who took center stage with Larios on Friday during a press conference for sports and entertainment writers, said he was still discussing the mechanics for the distribution of the tickets with Gabby Lopez, ABS-CBN chair.
The network has acquired the rights from Pacquiao’s MP Promotions to mount the boxing event, dubbed “Mano a Mano,” and to televise and market the fight in the Philippines and other countries.
“Baka magka-stampede,” said Pacquiao. “We’re being very careful.”
The network’s first anniversary live presentation of the game show “Wowowee” at the Philsports Arena in Pasig last February, resulted in a stampede that killed 71 people.
A source said the cost of the free tickets for Pacquiao’s game would most likely come from the champ’s share of profits.
ABS-CBN is reportedly spending about $4 million to mount the event.
Sky-high
The cost for anything that involves Pacquiao has risen sky-high, according to movie producer Rose Flaminiano. She has signed the boxer to a three-movie deal, the first of which is the bio-pic “Pacquiao,” directed by Joel Lamangan, due for release next month.
Flaminiano told Inquirer Entertainment after the press con that Pacquiao’s talent fee as an actor has likewise rocketed.
For his last film, “Lisensyadong Kamao,” produced by Violet Films, the boxer told Inquirer earlier, he received P650,000.
“Some producers will now find his talent fee very stiff,” Flaminiano said. “It runs in the millions. But I went on and signed him—even if the contract stipulates that I will make the movies whether he wins or loses his next fight. I believe he will win. And even if he loses, I believe that he will continue to be idolized by millions of Filipinos.”
Jericho Rosales plays Pacquiao in Flaminiano’s movie. After the press con, Pacquiao joined the actor for a photo shoot.
“I had to have my hair straightened for the part,” said Jericho, who has curly hair. “It’s tough keeping it straight. But I’m doing it for Manny.”
