Mosley coming to Manila?

A fund-raiser is being planned for staging in Manila by a group involved in pro boxing on May 24 and the word is several ring legends are showing up to lend a hand.  The event intends to build a war chest for something called “The United Boxing Relief Fund,” described as a non-profit venture of fight personalities who “have joined forces to use their time, talent and resources to provide assistance to communities throughout Asia when catastrophic natural disasters strike.”

A source said the group “will allocate funds to help support the relief efforts from typhoon Yolanda with a boxing event and special dinner party.” The support is specifically for Asia and the immediate beneficiary is the Philippines.

The same source said former IBF lightweight, WBC welterweight and WBC/WBA lightmiddleweight champion Sugar Shane Mosley is arriving in Manila on Tuesday morning to announce the event. Mosley is supposedly coming with lawyer Sydney Hall, business agent Germaine Gillies and British promoter Dennis Hobson.

“Sugar Shane will host the event,” said the source. “Among the legends to be invited are Mike Tyson and Roberto Duran. Active fighters like Robert Guerrero, Zab Judah and Amir Khan are also in the guest list and they’ll come for sure if the schedule doesn’t conflict with fight commitments.”

Hall was the San Francisco lawyer who brokered Manny Pacquiao’s US breakthrough in 2001. He worked closely with Pacquiao’s late business manager Rod Nazario in negotiating the Filipino icon’s fight against IBF superbantamweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas that year. Pacquiao took the IBF crown in his first US outing and that paved the way for his historic rise as a global star.

Gillies is involved in wealth management and entertainment production. An event like what’s in the works is right down her alley. As an investment advisor backed by 12 years of experience with a US financial institution, she has represented star athletes in the NFL and NBA including Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher. The Philippines is close to Gillies’ heart because she was born and raised in Baguio and her mother is Filipino-Chinese-Spanish. She speaks fluent Filipino. Gillies’ father is Australian. She moved to the US from the Philippines when she was 10. In 2008, she met Pacquiao and is friends with his wife Jinkee and her sisters Janet and Haydee.

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Hobson is a multi-millionaire from Sheffield. He owns hotels, apartments and holiday homes and is into property development. His passion is boxing and as a fight promoter, has brought Clinton Woods, Jamie McDonnell and Stuart Hall to world titles. Hobson used to promote Ricky Hatton. 

Interviewed by the Fight Network, Hobson spoke about the sport that he loves. “It’s very disillusioning,” he said. “It’s a man’s sport but there are so many dishonorable people involved in it. I’m in business outside boxing and I’ve always traded on my integrity. If I do a deal, I stick with it. I’ve got some good kids I want to bring through.  I can think ‘Do I need it?” but I’ve nothing to prove anymore because I’ve done it more than once, creating world champions.” Hobson, however, is not one to rest on his laurels. 

In this event, Hobson is channelling his energies towards a new purpose. He’s combining forces with Hall, Mosley and Gillies to give back to a country that has done so much for boxing in terms of providing a long line of champions and contenders.

Mosley, 42, announced his retirement from boxing after losing to Anthony Mundine in Sydney last November. He quit on his stool after the sixth round, complaining of back problems. His consolation was a $1 Million paycheck. It was a sad ending to a storybook journey. Mosley suffered his first abbreviated loss and wrapped up his career with a record of 47-9-1, including 39 KOs. Two of his wins were at Oscar de la Hoya’s expense.

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When Mosley comes to town, he’ll have lots of stories to tell. Since he fought and lost to Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, it’ll be interesting to find out what he thinks will happen if they ever square off. Mosley might even play a role in making the fight the whole world wants to see happen. The fight against Mundine is another interesting story. It was initially scheduled last October but after receiving a $300,000 down payment, Mosley refused to go on with the fight unless he was paid the balance, fearing the promoters would renege on their commitment because of poor ticket sales. Mosley left Sydney when the promoters failed to pay up then returned three weeks later to go on with the fight after a deposit was made to his bank account.

In an interview last year, Mosley said he’d like to experience the life and culture of the Philippines. “I know Manila’s a big boxing city,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of Filipino friends.”

The source said Mosley hopes to meet with Pacquiao in Manila, pay his respects and maybe broach the idea of fighting Mayweather. Mosley might even attend the PSA Awards Night at Solaire on Jan. 25 if he’s invited.