Rich purse, dream fight versus Barrera

This is one brawl of a fight Manny Pacquiao had been waiting the past 12 months.

Rod Nazario, the Filipino world boxing champ’s manager, arrived from the United States over the weekend to report on the completion of the negotiations for his ward’s keenly-awaited Nov. 15 match with Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio, Texas.

"Gustung-gusto nya (Pacquiao) itong laban na ito. Matagal na nyang hinihingi ito, noong isang taon niya pa pinipilit pero hindi namin pinansin dahil gusto naming sila (Barrera camp) ang mag-offer (Pacquiao really wanted this fight. He has been asking for this one since last year but we didn’t push for it because we wanted them to come up first with the offer)," Nazario said.

However, Nazario added that there was nothing definite on the money purse at the moment but assured that this will be no less than $300,000 and will be the biggest paycheck ever for the reigning IBF superbantamweight champion.

But since the 29-year-old Barrera, the former featherweight champion who distinguished himself as the only fighter to inflict defeats on erstwhile unbeaten champions Erik Morales and Hamed Naseem, is uncrowned, the 10-round bout will be a non-title fight and will instead be billed as the "People’s Championship."

"I believe Barrera wanted this fight as much as Pacquiao because this is the only fight that could offer him a big payday. He has fought Morales, Hamed and (Johnny) Tapia but nobody will give him as much purse as this one," said Nazario. "In fact, HBO wanted it, too."

Noted for his sturdy chin, Barrera boasts of a 57-3 win-loss record with 40 knockouts. He has won his last eight fights and lost only to Junior Jones twice and Morales in a career that started in 1989. Barrera is coming off a fourth round stoppage of Kevin Kelly last April.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, has 37-2-1 (win-loss-draw) mark with 29 KOs, including a third round stoppage of Emmanuel Lucero in Los Angeles last month.

Nazario said that all kinks have been ironed out, including the dispute on the fight weight with Pacquiao’s camp insisting and then prevailing to have the bout staged on the 126-lb division.

He added that Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao’s fight promoter in the US, is in constant touch with HBO (Home Box Office), the chief backer of the Pacquiao-Barrera fight, and the Golden Boy Boxing Promotions of Oscar dela Hoya and has been assured that there will be no managerial problem with regard to Barrera.

It has earlier been reported that a looming court suit may prevent the staging of the Pacquiao-Barrera fight because of the Mexican boxer’s recent "unresolved" breakup from manager Ricardo Maldonado and the Forum Boxing promotions group.

"Wala daw yung problema na yun," said Nazario.

Meanwhile, Nazario said they will make a request to the IBF to waive the 90-day mandatory defense between Barrera and Jose Luis Valbuena, currently ranked no. 6 in the 122-lb division, and then deal with the fight after the Pacquiao-Barrera showdown.

Also being lined up for Pacquiao, according to Nazario, is Paulie Ayala, who has earlier signified his intention to take on the Filipino champ in a probable title clash as part of his comeback bid from a setback to Morales last November.

"Win or lose (against Barrera), we will deal with him (Ayala)," said Nazario.