PACQUIAO WATCH: IF IT'S NOT OSCAR, IT'S ON WITH SOTO TO VANCOUVER
By Edwin G. Espejo
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
WITH Thursday (Friday, Manila time) now set by Oscar dela Hoya as his self-imposed deadline to name his next opponent, Team Pacquiao are biting their nails.
For sure, if it is Manny Pacquiao as the "chosen one," Golden Boy Promotion would have to improve its 70-30 split on PPV proceeds for the fight to materialize.
Otherwise, Manny will have to move on and fight Humberto Soto in the fall.
There could be some financial fallout for Team Pacquiao if Soto will be his next opponent.
But it is not exactly like he is turning his back on a possible eight-figure fight purse for loose change.
Under his promotional contract with Top Rank's Bob Arum, Manny is guaranteed at least $2 million each fight.
If any of his fight goes PPV, Manny will get the lion's share of the proceeds plus TV rights in the Philippines and share in the gate receipts.
In addition, he gets to co-promote, with Bob Arum, all his fights that ware not co-promoted with Golden Boy.
It is a complex arrangement hammered out by his lawyer-confidante Franklin "Jeng" Gacal Jr. after a lengthy legal tussle with Golden Boy two years ago.
After all the zeros are totaled and balanced, Manny will still earn his million (at least, and in dollars), whether it is Oscar dela Hoya or somebody else.
Manny will not go dirt poor without Golden Boy.
If Manny fights Soto in November, Bob Arum said it will be held outside of Las Vegas.
I have it that Vancouver is one big possible venue for the Pacquiao-Soto world title tiff.
Two weeks ago, General Santos City visitor Geoffrey Hughes said he could help set up the match in Vancouver where there is a sizeable Filipino community.
Bob Arum may like the idea as all venues in Las Vegas have been booked and HBO has already committed its PPV schedules to other fights.
Top Rank could do its own PPV in Vancouver.
Jeng Gacal said it will depend on who will give Manny the best package outside of a dela Hoya fight.
After a tough rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez early this year and a record breaking performance against David Diaz where he won his fourth official title in as many weight categories (some say it was his fifth after his 11th round shellacking of Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003), Manny could afford a lighter fight to prepare for next year's super bout with Briton Ricky Hatton.
So Golden Boy may have pushed their hands too far by bluffing Manny's camp.
It is for Oscar to make amends and give Manny what he is due.
It's Las Vegas or Vancouver.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Edwin G. Espejo.
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