Pacquiao minimum purse $2.5M

The purse is getting bigger and bigger for Manny Pacquiao.

Compared to what he received in his first two fights with Erik Morales, the Filipino boxing sensation is in for an even better deal in his third showdown with the Mexican icon this November.

According to Jo Ramos, one of Pacquiao’s trusted lieutenants, the 27-year-old native of Gen. Santos City is guaranteed $2.5 million or roughly P127 million in his next fight.

Pacquiao received $1.75 million when he fought and lost a unanimous decision to Morales in March last year, and received $2 million when he knocked out the Mexican in the 10th round last January.

Pacquiao got $1 million last month for fighting Oscar Larios whom he defeated in 12 rounds at the Araneta Coliseum.

For his third and decisive meeting with Morales, Pacquiao will receive no less than $2.5 million.

"That’s what he’s going to get – nothing less," Ramos told scribes the other night.

"But it doesn’t look like he’s going to get just that because he’s got an equal fifty-fifty share with Erik Morales in the television rights, pay-per-view earnings, ticket sales and merchandising," said Ramos.

The LA-based Filipino didn’t say how much Morales would receive although it should at least match Pacquiao’s purse.

Everything that the fight earns, according to Ramos, will go "straight to the pot." After some deductions it would be split in half by Pacquiao and Morales, who enjoyed a 60-40 edge over Pacquiao the last time.

"Now it’s fifty-fifty. And this time, Pacquiao will get the left-side billing in the promotions. It’s now Pacquiao vs Morales and not Morales vs Pacquiao like in their previous fights," said Ramos.

Morales has lost his two fights. Pacquiao has won his last three.

In the end, Pacquiao could get more than $4 million before the deductions come in.

Pacquiao and Morales will sign the fight contract soon, probably when they meet during the two press conferences lined up in Los Angeles and Las Vegas later this month.

Pacquiao’s manager Shelly Finkel and lawyers Nick Khan and Keith Davidson have worked so hard to strike this deal with promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank. Arum also promotes Morales.

Ramos said this early, they’re trying to line up another fight for Pacquiao sometime in April either in Hawaii or San Francisco. This, he said, would serve as a tune-up for his projected showdown with either Marco Antonio Barrera or Rocky Juarez late next year.

Barrera will defend his WBC 130 lb title against Juarez on Sept. 16 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao will be at ringside, and is expected to fly back to LA the day after to begin his eight-week training for the Morales fight.