ARUM SAYS PACQUIAO STILL UNDER CONTRACT WITH TOP RANK
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 Mar 2018
Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao?s media relation officer Aquiles Zonio has repeatedly stated that the fighting senator is a free agent in promoting his fights. According to Zonio, Pacquiao's contract with Top Rank expired after the Filipino icon's controversial loss to Jeff Horn last July in Brisbane, Australia.
Pacquiao himself has declared the same pronouncements to the media personnel. But Top Rank CEO Bob Arum negated that claim and clarified that the fighter-legislator is under a long-term deal with his company. But Arum would not elaborate the details of the Pacquiao contract.
He also discussed that Top Rank would participate if Pacquiao pushes through the match against WBA "regular" welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina in Malaysia. Pacquiao stated earlier that only his MP Promotions would be involved in the June 24 fight.
?Yes, [Pacquiao] is [still under contract],? Arum told The Manila Times. ?I can?t go on with it [the details of the contract]. All I?m saying is that he is under contract with Top Rank for reasonably long period of time but I don?t know exactly when the contract will expire."
Arum said he doesn?t know if the fight with Matthysse is going to happen because the people who were supposed to be contacted by the Pacquiao camp have not been able put up the money yet. And they are waiting for the money.
"If the money doesn?t come up, there won?t be a fight. I know it is dangerous. It is not just a fight until thepeople involved who will be putting up the money put up the money. The fight will always be final when the money comes up. Manny has agreed to fight if the money that was promised comes up."
The Top Rank boss said that they are going to set it up as his company will provide the logistics and the television. They will just discuss it if the fight will truly happen. He added that ESPN will air the fight and he has an idea how much money it is but he is not going to say it.
Pacquiao said he is determined to win against Matthysse. ?I want to show to everyone that I can still compete at a high level,? he was quoted by Nick Giongco of Manila Bulletin.
He admitted though that the bout in Kuala Lumpur is not yet finalized, but Pacquiao announced the formal launch of the fight on April 4 in Manila and another presser in KL on April 6. Other proposed promotional news conferences will be held in Beijing, Tokyo, Macau and Hong Kong.
After the promotional events, he will start his training camp that will end at General Santos City in the last four weeks. He does not want to train in the metropolis. "Pollution and traffic are the problems in Manila,? said Pacquiao.
The two major players, Top Rank and Golden Boy, Promotion have not given their commitments yet. But Pacquiao is confident that a deal will be done as soon as possible. "There are minor details to be threshed out,? said Pacquiao.
He personally picked Matthysse as his next opponent because the Argentinean has a very aggressive style which could entertain the audience. ?Those are the big fights I want," disclosed Pacquiao.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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