WHILE THE Nov. 18 rubber match between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales is already etched in stone, a major issue remains unsolved concerning the highly-anticipated duel, the Filipino star’s confidant revealed yesterday.
Fresh from Las Vegas, Wakee Salud told the Bulletin that the official fight contract has yet to be signed as Pacquiao is asking for a purse of $ 3 million.
Salud joined hands with Pacquiao in the promotion of the recent Mano a Mano slugfest at the Araneta Coliseum.
Top Rank, which is staging the scheduled 12-rounder at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, is dangling a paycheck of $ 2.5 million.
Top Rank, owned by Bob Arum, holds the promotional rights for the surefire Pacquiao-Morales III.
“Manny wants $ 3 million,” said Salud, who was at ringside over the weekend when Shane Mosley beat Fernando Vargas and Randy Suico failed in his bid to wrest the world lightweight crown from Juan Diaz at the MGM Grand.
Salud and lawyer Franklin Gacal had traveled to the US in the hopes of finalizing the details of the contract for the third Morales bout. They returned home last Wednesday.
“Manny will have to go there personally in the second week of August (to settle everything),” said Salud, who also plans to host the Philippine training camp of Pacquiao beginning the third week of August in preparation for Pacquiao’s two-month long stay at the Wild Card in Hollywood starting in September.
“There’s been talk that Pacquiao will kick off his training camp in next month and I would gladly welcome him here,” said Salud from the Queen City.
“There is an abundance of facilities here.” When Pacquiao lost to Morales the first time they met in March, 2005, he earned $ 1.750 million and got much more in the rematch where he stopped Morales by collecting $ 2 million last January apart from a cut in the pay-per-view sales.
Pacquiao succeeded in revving up for Morales with a hard-earned unanimous decision win over Oscar Larios last July 2, while Morales has opted not to engage in a tuneup match.
Despite the kinks, Salud said the third fight would push through as Pacquiao is mandated to face Morales for the third time.
“This is not going to be the deal-breaker,” said Salud. “Pretty soon, they’ll be able to iron out the problem.”
Under the agreements for the third fight, both fighters should weigh not more then 130 lbs.
