P10-million offer for Pacquiao

International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao yesterday received a $200,000 (P10-million) offer to defend his crown against an opponent of his choice in a Home Box Office (HBO) cable TV show on Aug. 17 in Virginia.

Pacquiao’s manager Marty Elorde told The STAR he got the offer from lawyer Gary Gittelsohn in a phonecall. Gittelsohn represents promoter Lou DiBella, former vice president of HBO Sports.

Elorde said he immediately relayed the offer to Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario who is waiting for another bid from Murad Muhammad. Nazario said Muhammad asked for 10 days within which to propose a fight for Pacquiao, possibly against IBF featherweight titlist Johnny Tapia. The 10-day deadline lapses on Friday.

It was Muhammad who promoted Pacquiao’s last three bouts in the US. He is well-connected in boxing. Muhammad’s ex-wife Marian is the IBF president. And he brought his company M&M Promotions to prominence with undisputed world lightheavyweight champion Roy Jones as its marquee property.

Nazario said DiBella talked to him about promoting Pacquiao last year and even offered legal assistance to break out of any contract with Muhammad. Nazario, however, said his word is his bond. While Nazario no longer has an existing contract with Muhammad, he gave his word to the New Jersey promoter that he would take priority in negotiating Pacquiao’s next fight.

Nazario explained that Muhammad plans to stage the elimination fight between No. 3 Fahprakob Rakkiat-gym of Thailand and No. 4 Jose Valbuena of Venezuela – which will determine Pacquiao’s mandatory challenger. But the fight, which was scheduled last May 23, failed to materialize. Pacquiao is due for an obligatory defense but curiously, the IBF lists no No. 1 or No. 2 contender in its 122-pound ratings. Both slots are vacant.

Nazario said he is open to discuss terms with any group that submits the highest bid. But his target is a big-money fight against Tapia whose former trainer Freddie Roach now handles Pacquiao. Nazario said he’d like Pacquiao to figure in a non-title, warm-up fight here before battling Tapia because he hardly perspired in disposing of Jorge Eliecer Julio in two rounds last June 8.

Elorde said DiBella, whose stable includes rising flyweight contender Brian Viloria – a Hawaiian of Filipino descent, is prepared to offer a multi-fight deal. Nazario said he’s eager to study DiBella’s offer in writing.

Another promoter Don King has tried to reach out to Pacquiao. A King representative recently phoned the L&M gym in Sampaloc where Pacquiao works out. For sure, King also wants a piece of Pacquiao, who has mesmerized the US boxing market with his sensational knockout wins over Lehlo Ledwaba and Julio.

Elorde said he will sit down with Nazario on Friday to discuss Pacquiao’s future. By then, maybe, the bids of DiBella and Muhammad will have been submitted.