LAS VEGAS – WBO welterweight champion and the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao isn’t just the lord of the boxing ring. Now, he’s the master of another ring – the kind you wear in your finger.
The other day, celebrated jeweller Howard Kaplan launched two versions of Pacquiao’s commemorative eight-world championship ring. Both editions are on display at the Watch Boutique, a high-end store at the MGM Grand here, until Monday. The rings may be bought only through the internet on MP8collection.com, the officially licensed website.
The first version retails for $5,300 and is what Pacquiao himself wears, except when training. The 14-karat white gold hand-crafted ring has more than 1 1/2 ounces of white gold with over .80 carat of genuine white diamonds and three genuine yellow diamonds which are bezel set. It measures 25 x 23 mm with red-and-blue enameling and comes inside an etched solid wood presentation box.
The second version uses 85 percent silver, palladium and platinum containing more than 1 1/2 ounces of BPS metal. There is yellow, blue and red enameling. The top of the ring measures 25 x 23 mm and also comes in an etched solid wood presentation box.
Both rings portray Pacquiao kneeling in his corner – as he does before every fight – on one side and the inscription “Greatest Fighter” on the other. To celebrate his feat, the rings proudly note that Pacquiao is an “8x World Champion – 1998-2011.” The face of the rings show a fist with the thumb and forefinger in red and the other fingers in blue with three beads in yellow just under the knuckles.
Kaplan, 62, used to own a chain of jewelry stores in Chicago. Today, the Illinois native customizes rings as his exclusive business. Kaplan is considered the No. 1 championship ring-maker in sports and has produced rings to commemorate titles won by the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants. He also manufactured six personalized rings for Michael Jordan to immortalize his six NBA titles and the Muhammad Ali “Athlete of the Century” ring in 2000. Kaplan recently made 100 rings on a special order by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Kaplan was introduced to Pacquiao by Filipino businessman Frank Nazario in Los Angeles over two months back. Nazario, who lives in San Francisco, conceived of the ring project with a friend Greg Terrada. Kaplan was introduced to Nazario by Terrada.
“It took me over a month to design the rings,” said Kaplan who has been in the jewelry business for over 40 years. “I sat down with Manny and made a design based on what he wanted. Foremost is the use of the Philippine flag colors of yellow, red and blue as he is extremely patriotic. I showed him the rings about three weeks ago and he now uses the $5,300 version. He wore it when he appeared on the Jimmy Kemmel TV show. Manny’s an incredible individual, just a regular guy. He’s not just a great fighter but a great person with a commitment to serve his country.”
Kaplan, a Chicago Bulls and White Sox season’s ticket holder, said he’s now working on a pendant commemorating Pacquiao’s eight world titles for women. He may develop a new design next year to mark Pacquiao’s continuing reign as the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
Kaplan said Pacquiao is a business partner in the project. “Manny isn’t being paid a royalty,” disclosed Kaplan. “He’s lending his name to the project without pay. He has agreed to receive a significant share of the profits but he wants everything to go to charity. That’s how Manny is. He just wants to give back.”
Kaplan said customers ordering from the internet must indicate their finger sizes. Rings will be delivered four to six weeks after payment is confirmed by paypal or credit card.
– Joaquin Henson