Manny Pacquiao is keeping his options open but manager Shelly Finkel and trainer Freddie Roach are pushing for World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera as Pacman’s next opponent.
Finkel and Roach flew in to attend the christening of Pacquiao’s daughter Princess, celebrate his 28th birthday and witness the blessing of his newly-built home in General Santos City last Sunday.
Finkel left Monday night for New York City to join his family in observing the Jewish eight-day Hanukkah holiday that started last Friday. Roach, best friend Billy Keane and Pacquiao’s assistant Joe Ramos went to Cebu late yesterday afternoon on Wakee Salud’s invitation and met with ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer. Roach and Keane will leave for Los Angeles tonight.
Pacquiao declined to even hint as to whom he’ll likely face although Barrera has been repeatedly mentioned as a leading candidate.
Tokyo-based World Boxing Association (WBA) superfeatherweight titlist Edwin Valero was earlier rumored to be in line as Pacquiao’s next opponent in a Top Rank promotion in Macau this March but the unbeaten Venezuelan’s manager Akihiko Honda said the fight is not in the works. Honda said Valero will make at least three defenses before possibly taking on Pacquiao in 2008.
Salud said Pacquiao is keeping mum because of the court case involving a dispute over his promotional rights between Top Rank and Golden Boy.
Pacquiao signed a seven-fight deal with Golden Boy last September and received a signing bonus of $350,000 and a purse advance of $150,000. Top Rank’s Bob Arum, however, convinced Pacquiao to renounce the contract and return the $500,000 cash then signed him to a four-year deal, stipulating a minimum purse of $2 million for two fights each year, with a $1 million bonus last month. Arum also committed to promote four bouts a year for any fighter of Pacquiao’s choice and to share half of net proceeds even without an investment from him.
“It’s up to the courts to decide which contract is valid,” said Salud. “Whatever the courts decide is where Manny will go.”
But Finkel and Roach said Pacquiao is better off with Golden Boy.
“Barrera is whom we want next and Golden Boy can deliver him,” said Finkel. “I don’t think a Macau fight is viable because there will be no US TV for it. I’m not worried about losing the chance for Manny to earn at least $2 million a fight for Top Rank because I know he’s worth much, much more.”
Finkel’s contract as Pacquiao’s manager expires next month and it appears he will be retained for at least three more fights. He was instrumental in Pacquiao disengaging from previous US promoter Murad Muhammad and negotiating favorable terms in the second and third fights against Erik Morales. Finkel is well-respected in international boxing circles and has managed a slew of world champions, including Mike Tyson.
Roach said he is confident the courts will uphold Golden Boy’s contract. Besides, he said Golden Boy controls the fighters in Pacquiao’s wish list.
“Golden Boy can deliver the fighters whom Manny wants to fight, like Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Joan Guzman,” said Roach. “Top Rank is offering (Humberto) Soto to fight Manny and that’s not a big money fight.”
Soto, 26, packs a 40-5-2 record, with 24 KOs, and hasn’t lost in his last 18 bouts. He was once a WBC interim featherweight champion.
“We want Barrera next,” said Roach. “If Golden Boy can’t sign up Manny, they’ll match Barrera against Marquez on March 11. There’s a chance Barrera could lose to Marquez who’s a difficult fighter to beat. If Barrera loses to Marquez, that will surely bring down the value of a rematch against Manny. The fans want to see Manny versus Barrera again, not Manny versus Soto.”
“Right now, Manny is holding all the aces,” said Salud. “We should advice Manny on what is best for his future and career. Maybe, he could be a free agent without a contract tying him down to a promoter.”
Salud said he never earned a cent in brokering Pacquiao’s fights with Top Rank in the past and doesn’t intend to charge a fee for future deals. His interest is only to protect Pacquiao, he added.
“Golden Boy paid $50,000 to an agent for delivering Boom Boom Bautista,” said Salud. “I would probably be paid much more if I deliver Manny to Golden Boy but I think Top Rank has a better offer. I’m not sure if Shelly or Freddie knows the details of Top Rank’s contract. Still, I refuse to deal with Top Rank unless I go direct to Bob Arum and his people, not through an agent. But the decision on which promoter to tie up with is not in Manny’s hands anymore. It’s now up to the courts.”
