ALARMED by the growing consensus favoring his rival promoter – Top Rank founder and president Bob Arum slipped into the country unannounced last Monday to talk about his “contract” and the future of Manny Pacquiao.
With trainer Freddie Roach and manager Shelly Finkel taking the side of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), Arum decided to visit Pacquiao, who reportedly signed a contract with GBP last September and with Top Rank last November.
“We don’t really have an idea why Arum came but I believe his main concern is the promotional battle. I believe that is the main reason why Arum personally came to visit Manny,” said Cebuano promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud. “This is going to be a long and winding battle. I only wish the best for Manny.”
Roach and Finkel were among the guests of Pacquiao during his triple bash the other week in General Santos City. Both took the side of De La Hoya, saying the Filipino boxing icon has a brighter future with GBP than with Top Rank.
“Top Rank has no opponent to offer Pacquiao, while if he is with Golden Boy there are a lot of fighters that can challenge him at any time,” added Salud.
Guarranteed
Reportedly, Golden Boy Promotions offered Pacquiao a $5 million guaranteed purse to fight Marco Antonio Barrera plus a lofty pay-per-view share in April.
After the rematch, Pacquiao could face Juan Manuel Marquez next.
Both Barrera and Marquez are under GBP.
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer had already given Pacquiao an ultimatum to honor his contract with the outfit or his chance to fight Barrera for the World Boxing Council super featherweight belt will vanish.
If Pacquiao can’t make up his mind early next year, Golden Boy will stage the Barrera-Marquez fight, which Schaefer believes is an equally explosive duel as Pacquiao-Barrera II.
