Manny's fight on ESPN5, GMA-7, cable
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 27 Dec 2018
Former two-time world boxing champion Gerry Penalosa said the other day he has negotiated with ESPN5 and GMA-7 for the WBA welterweight title fight between defending champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao and challenger Adrien Broner to air over the two networks with Skycable and Cignal making available a live telecast on pay-per-view.
Penalosa recently secured the Philippine TV rights for the fight with backing from Japanese investors. The rights fee was reportedly in the range of $2.5 to 3 Million. The deal includes the option of last refusal in negotiating the Philippine TV rights for Pacquiao?s next fight which may be against either Floyd Mayweather, Jr. or IBF titlist Errol Spence, Jr.
The Pacquiao-Broner fight is set at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Jan. 19 so it will show in the Philippines the next morning to align with the time zone. Penalosa said he has allocated six hours for the free-to-air telecast from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a progressively delayed basis. Aside from the Pacquiao-Broner main event, the TV coverage will include interim WBA featherweight champion Jhack Tepora?s defense against former WBC superbantamweight titleholder Hugo Ruiz of Mexico, the battle for the vacant WBC bantamweight crown between three-time Olympian Rau?shee Warren of Cincinnati and France?s Nordine Oubaalin and the duel for the interim WBA lightheavyweight throne between Sweden?s Badou Jack and unbeaten Marcus Browne of New York.
Las Vegas-based matchmaker Sean Gibbons described the undercard as a blockbuster. ?I think every fight in the undercard is 50-50 or at best, 60-40,? he said. ?They?re all exciting fights to lead to the main event which will be Manny?s first fight in the US since he defeated Jessie Vargas at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas two years ago.?
Penalosa, who reigned as the WBC superflyweight and WBO bantamweight champion, said he expects Pacquiao to bowl over Broner. ?Even if Manny?s not 100 percent, he?ll still beat Broner,? he said. ?Even if Manny?s just 50 percent. Broner?s 29 and Manny?s 40 but in terms of speed, power and quality of opposition, Manny has the advantage. What makes Manny unbeatable is his will to win. Still, it will be a good fight. Broner?s a capable fighter with four world titles but he?s not an exceptional talent. He has a nice right straight which could give problems to a southpaw, a left hook to the body and a right uppercut. Skills-wise, I rate Broner a seven out of 10. I rate Manny a 10.?
Penalosa said it will be an easy $25 Million payday for Pacquiao. As for Broner, the talk is he?ll be paid at least $5 Million. ?Sobrang yabang ni Broner,? he said. ?People will pay for a ticket to see him beaten up. I heard Al Haymon signed him to a $50 Million, five-fight contract but is he worth $10 Million a fight? I also heard the contract is good only if he keeps winning.?
Penalosa said during the recent two-city US press tour to launch the fight, Broner seemed to be intimidated or awed by Pacquiao. ?He didn?t talk too much trash when Manny was in front of him,? said Penalosa. ?I don?t know if he was star-struck. If you?re intimidated by Manny out of the ring, it will show in the ring. Broner likes to talk trash but not when Manny?s around. I think he has too much respect for Manny.?
Penalosa, now an active promoter, has a card scheduled at the Midas Hotel on Roxas Boulevard on Feb. 16 featuring his nephew Dave Penalosa against a Mexican, former two-time world champion Johnriel Casimero against a Japanese and WBO No. 10 bantamweight Carl Martin against a Thailander. He?s also the brains behind ESPN5?s new boxing series, still unnamed with a working title of ?Dugong Kampeon,? to start in April.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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