Despite an order from WBC president Jose Sulaiman, it doesn’t look like Manny Pacquiao is inclined to fight superfeatherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez unless Top Rank and Golden Boy settle their differences.
That’s the word from Pacquiao’s boxing adviser Rex (Wakee) Salud who told The STAR yesterday in an overseas phone call from Tokyo the WBC title isn’t a major factor in ticket or pay-per-view sales.
Top Rank and Golden Boy are in court for Pacquiao’s promotional rights. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said recently he’s ready to discuss terms of settlement because it doesn’t make economic sense for all parties to take the dispute to a legal conclusion that will mean a long wait.
The longer the case drags in court, the more Top Rank and Golden Boy will pay lawyers who stand to gain the most out of a protracted struggle. Since Pacquiao is allied with Top Rank and Golden Boy controls his most marketable opponents, the stalemate puts in cold storage plans for more mega-buck fights involving the Filipino ring icon.
Sulaiman recently ruled that Pacquiao, as the WBC’s No. 1 contender, is Marquez’ next mandatory challenger and gave agents of both fighters up to June 18 to agree on a Sept. 15 fight. If there is no agreement upon deadline, the WBC will conduct a purse bid where the champion takes 75 percent of the pot and the challenger, 25 percent.
Salud said it is unrealistic for Pacquiao to agree to a 25 percent share because he’s the crowd drawer, not Marquez.
Golden Boy isn’t even considering the WBC option because it has announced plans for Marquez to defend the crown against Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch on Sept. 15, the same date Sulaiman reserved for Pacquiao.
Salud, who will be back in town on May 27 after vacationing in Tokyo and Seoul, said if the impasse persists, there will be no “big deal” fights for Pacquiao this year.
The problem is Marquez, Barrera, unbeaten WBO champion Joan Guzman and even undefeated WBA titlist Edwin Valero are linked to Golden Boy, said Salud who named No. 2 contender Humberto Soto as the only competitive opponent left for Pacquiao.
But Soto has to hurdle Pacquiao’s brother Bobby in a 10-round bout on June 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York City before lining up for a shot at Pacman.
Salud said if Soto beats Bobby, Marquez may be forced to stake his title against the Mexican who is the WBC interim champion. If Marquez refuses to face Soto who is a Top Rank fighter, the WBC could declare the title vacant then order Soto and Manny to fight for the throne.
Salud said it’s not sure if Barrera is now a free agent because Golden Boy claims he is still under contract. Guzman’s rights are held by a promotional company owned by a native American group but Golden Boy has a minority stake. Valero’s manager is Golden Boy owner Oscar de la Hoya’s father Joel even as he is now promoted by Japanese impresario Akihiko Honda.
The muddled situation will clear up when Pacquiao leaves for Los Angeles on May 28. He will meet Arum to discuss future fights then fly to New York City to receive his Fighter of the Year Award from the Boxing Writers Association of America at the Copacabana Club on June 8 and watch Bobby’s fight against Soto at the Garden the next night. Pacquiao will also attend the International Boxing Hall of Fame parade of champions and enshrinement rites in Canastota the day after the bout.