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Monday, December 27, 2004
Pacquiao signs up with Muhammand
By Rommel C. Manlosa
AFTER standing fast for a couple of days, Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao finally signed a two-fight contract that will pit him with two of the three illustrious Mexican fighters.
The contract, tendered by international promoter Murad Muhammad, also guarantees him at least $2.65 million.
Pacquiao earlier feared he would get less than what was promised him in the event WBA and IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez backs out from their reported Feb. 26 fight in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Facing the possibility of being left with orts, Pacquiao softened on his stand after he was assured he would get the $900,000 purse for his next fight even if the Marquez rematch does not push through.
HBO pressure
However, a Sun.Star-Cebu source said Pacquiao was pressured by HBO Boxing Promotions to sign the contract. The source said HBO threatened to book the anticipated light heavyweight rematch of Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver on Feb. 26, the same date of the Filipino’s fight, if Pacquiao continues to play around.
Aside from the return bout with Marquez, Pacquiao is lined up for a fight against Eric Morales and a $1.75 million purse in July.
If he gets past Marquez and Morales, a rematch against WBC super-featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera by November is likely to happen.
Pacquiao will train with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California. He started light training with Nonoy Neri in Davao City last week.
Pacquiao and his Filipino trainer, Boboy Fernandez, will leave for LA on Jan. 5.
Marquez, for his part, has been training 10,000 feet above sea level in Mexico City since last month.
(December 27, 2004 issue)
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