Arum assures big money fights for Manny

Top Rank Promotions owner Bob Arum said the other day he’s not worried about a supposed threat of rival Golden Boy preventing high-profile opponents Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez from fighting Manny Pacquiao because in the end, it’s what the fans want that counts.

Arum, 75, said the fight game is a business and promoters will set aside their differences to arrange the match with the highest revenue potential.

In Arum’s mind, Pacquiao is the hottest property in boxing today and anyone who faces him in the ring is assured of a big payday.

"I can’t see how Golden Boy won’t want Barrera or Marquez to fight Manny," said Arum. "Barrera’s last fight did only 150,000 hits on pay-per-view and Marquez’ last fight did even worse, about 70,000."

Pacquiao’s last two US fights generated a total of over 700,000 pay-per-view subscriptions. If fighters go where the money is, they’ll head straight for Pacquiao.

Arum arrived here last Dec. 26 to confer with Pacquiao on plans for the future. He flew in via Philippine Airlines early morning and took a 7 a.m. connecting flight to General Santos City. Arum took off from the US on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas Day in flight. He left Manila last night.

Arum said he will offer Barrera a guaranteed purse of $2.5 million and a share of the pay-per-view receipts to take on Pacquiao in Las Vegas on April 17 or 28. Arum reportedly is agreeable to co-promote the bout with Golden Boy. If Barrera plays hard to get, Arum will find another opponent, possibly Humberto Soto, for Pacquiao and bring the fight to Macau. Either way, Pacquiao is assured of a $2 million paycheck. A Barrera rematch would mean a $5 million purse.

A source said Arum inked Pacquiao to a four-year contract with a $1 million signing bonus. Each year, Pacquiao will see action at least twice and Arum will also promote four bouts involving Filipino fighters of Pacquiao’s choice. Arum will pay Pacquiao a minimum of $2 million, regardless of whether the fight is for a title or not.

Arum said as an "old school" promoter, he prefers fighters to stay active and appear in three to four fights a year, something he can arrange for Pacquiao who commented he didn’t mind the frequency.

The contract awards Pacquiao exclusive Philippine TV rights for his fights and a 50 percent share of net income in each promotion without contributing a single cent of investment.

"Top Rank’s offer is better than Golden Boy’s," said Rex (Wakee) Salud who is Pacquiao’s consultant on boxing affairs. "Golden Boy’s contract was for seven fights without a time period and with no minimum purse. They could tie you down for as long as they want. I prefer dealing with Top Rank because I can go straight to Bob. I told Bob I refuse to go through an agent."

Salud said there’s only a slim chance that Pacquiao will renew manager Shelly Finkel’s contract.

Another Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz, a Canadian lawyer, said Finkel’s contract expired last August and will not be renewed. Pacquiao’s chief of staff Jayke Joson said Arum explained that the fighter no longer needs a manager since he now has a promoter in Top Rank.

"Aside from a promoter, Bob mentioned Manny just needs a lawyer and an accountant," said Joson.

Finkel, however, is highly regarded in boxing circles and his influence is far-reaching.

Koncz said Pacquiao knew all along Arum would visit.

"I ran the idea of Bob’s visit through Manny and he approved it," said Koncz. "Bob wanted to come for Manny’s birthday (Dec. 17) but couldn’t make it. Because of the Christmas rush, Bob could only book a ticket out of the US for Christmas Eve. That’s how special Manny is to him."

Koncz said Arum, at his expense, has assigned an independent lawyer William Coulthard of the Las Vegas law firm Harrison, Kemp and Jones to handle Pacquiao’s legal matters in the US.

Koncz, who lives in Orange County, California, arrived with Pacquiao from Los Angeles last month. He said he will stay in the country as long as Pacquiao needs him.

"My loyalty is to Manny, not to anyone else," said Koncz. "I don’t get a cent from Top Rank. I give Manny advice and it’s up to him to take it or leave it. My obligation now is to find more Filipino fighters for Top Rank to promote."