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Friday, October 08, 2004
Pacman is mad
AFTER getting suckered numerous times, featherweight People’s Champion Manny Pacquiao has fought back and has fired his US-based promoter Murad Muhammad and declared himself a free agent.
In a press statement issued by Mannypacquiao.ph, the General Santos City-born boxer ended his association with Muhammad because of numerous breaches in his existing contract, which is set to expire in February 2005.
Pacquiao signed a two-and-half-year deal with Murad in 2001 worth $ 2.5 million. However, Murad’s failure to book Pacquiao a fight with Erik Morales, Juan Antonio Barrera or Juan Marquez prompted him to terminate their deal.
Unhappy
“I am no longer happy at how things are shaping up with my career. I am young, I am healthy and I am at the top of the featherweight division but I cannot even get a decent fight. Something is wrong somewhere,” the press statement said.
“I am firing my promoter Murad Muhammad after our existing contract has been breached on several counts,” said Pacquiao. “I have given them enough time to negotiate and find me a worthy opponent and they have failed not just once.
Free agent
“I have been training for almost a month now but nothing concrete and substantial has come up that is why I am declaring myself a free agent from hereon.”
Pacquiao was supposed to lock horns with Marquez in a blockbuster rematch but the match was shelved for February next year. Instead, Marquez fought and won by a lackluster unanimous decision over Orlando Salido last month.
A rematch with dethroned People’s Champion Marco Antonio Barrera was also considered a “done deal” but Muhammad likewise failed to seal it for Pacquiao after talks with Golden Boy Promotions fizzled out due to term disagreements.
Another huge battle between Pacquiao and super-featherweight champion Erik Morales loomed but in the end, it was Morales and Barrera inking a megabuck deal on Nov. 27.
However, boxing columnists in the country have slammed Murad and said that the negotiations for a Barrera-Pacquiao rematch was just part of a conspiracy to hold Barrera– Morales III.
“This decision was one of the hardest things that I have to make. I owe Mr. Muhammad many things in my career but I guess in this case, we have to move on with our lives,” said Pacquiao.
“I hope he finally accepts his failures and that we part ways peacefully. He had more than his fair share in all my winnings and I know that my decision is just,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao returned to the country unannounced Sunday in disgust and frustration over broken promises. He begged to discuss the numerous points, which would have voided his contract with Muhammad.
“The only thing that I should be doing now is to concentrate and prepare for my next fight but instead, I have to attend to several other matters. I am worried that ring rust might catch up on me.
All I want is to fight,” said Pacquiao. ML with a report from mannypacquiao.ph
(October 8, 2004 issue)
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