Filipino boxing promoter Wakee Salud is in hot water following the decision by his fighter, super-featherweight Jimrex Jaca to hook up with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) which has penciled a lucrative Nov. 25 bout in Texas against Mexican master counter-puncher Juan Manuel Marquez.
Salud told Fightnews that Jaca left the Philippines for Los Angeles accompanied by his trainer Robert “Jun” Bubuli. The two are now under the care of GBP vice-president for matchmaking Eric Gomez.
Upon Jaca’s arrival, he signed a three-fight contract with GBP.
Jaca had initially been booked to face Marquez last month, but the bout fell through after Jaca encountered problems with his travel documents (US visa). Salud thought GBP would not re-schedule the fight and he decided to negotiate for Jaca to see action underneath the high-profile Nov. 18 rubber match between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas which will be promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank.
Jaca’s purse in the Top Rank show is only $7,500 since it would only be an eight-rounder, while GBP is dangling a paycheck of $50,000 in the Marquez bout.
Jaca was a last-minute addition to the Nov. 18 card and Salud had to twist an arm for Jaca to be included.
Arum is expected to raise a howl in this latest saga considering that Top Rank considers GBP as a chief rival nowadays owing to the exodus there of some of the fight game’s top attractions.
Last September, GBP dealt Top Rank a big blow by signing up Pacquiao to a seven-fight deal. Salud said “Arum might think I approved of Jaca’s decision to fight for Golden Boy and he might even conclude that I am just acting up.”
