Pacquiao trains sights on Mexico’s 3Ms

The order of battle for world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has been laid out. The only problem is if the HBO (Home Box Office) cable network has the funds to foot the bill.

Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario told The Star the other day he is in constant contact with US promoter Murad Muhammad who in turn is in constant contact with HBO vice president for sports Kery Davis.

The plan is for Pacquiao to fight Marco Antonio Barrera in an October pay-per-view rematch, tentatively at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, then Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales next year.

Mexico’s 3 Ms (Marco, Marquez and Morales) are high in Pacquiao’s priority list. HBO is grooming "Pacman" as the Latin Assassin to create an ethnic rivalry between the Asian and Hispanic communities which comprise the bulk of the network’s boxing market.

Nazario said he gave Muhammad up to Saturday to firm up the details of the Barrera rematch. If no firm offer is made within the deadline, Nazario intimated he will promote Pacquiao’s next fight and try to lure World Boxing Organization featherweight titlist Scott Harrison of Scotland to Manila as his opponent before the year ends.

It was previously reported that Barrera’s adviser Richard Schaeffer of Golden Boy Promotions said the rematch is on hold because of problems dealing with Muhammad.

Barrera recently stopped former world champion Paulie Ayala in his first outing since losing to Pacquiao by knockout last November. He was in sharp form and dropped Ayala thrice before referee Pat Russell stepped in at 2:34 of the 10th round. After the demolition, Barrera challenged Pacquiao and said there will be no distractions in the rematch. Barrera claimed he was distracted by extraneous circumstances when he lost to Pacquiao and never gave full credit to the General Santos City slugger for the victory.

Nazario, who watched Barrera destroy Ayala on TV, said it was obvious the Mexican chose Ayala as a victim to prepare for Pacquiao. Both Ayala and Pacquiao are southpaws. Nazario noticed Barrera repeatedly circled to Ayala’s right, a tactic he will try to do against Pacquiao to avoid getting hit by the left hand.

Once a date is set for the Barrera rematch, Nazario said he will send Pacquiao to Los Angeles to train under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym at least two months before the fight.

HBO is reportedly investing a fortune in the Oscar de la Hoya-Bernard Hopkins showdown and Roy Jones’ fight against Glen Johnson for a portion of the lightheavyweight crown, leaving little left in this year’s budget for a Pacquiao-Barrera return bout.

Nazario said Pacquiao’s immediate priority is to prove his win over Barrera was no fluke. The next goal is to finally dethrone Marquez as International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association featherweight champion as their first fight ended in a draw last May. The ultimate objective is to wrest the World Boxing Council superfeatherweight crown from Morales to make Pacquiao the first Asian to win world titles in four different divisions.

Nazario said Pacquiao jogs every morning to stay in shape but hasn’t sparred since May.

Pacquiao recently moved into a two-storey home in BF Homes, Parañaque, a kilometer away from Nazario’s home and the local Wild Card Gym. He bought the two-year-old house from the Jacinto family for P4.8 million. The house sits on a 203-square meter property but has a floor area of 280-square meters with four bedrooms and six bathrooms.

Pacquiao spent an additional P650,000 for air-conditioners, a home theater TV system in the den, furniture and landscaping. The house is equipped with an alarm system and an automated two-car garage.