Shaw to promote Pacquiao

When God closes the door, he opens the window.

This timeless biblical passage proved true for Manny Pacquiao because after he severed ties with the loud-mouthed American boxingman Murad Muhammad, it did not take long for the Filipino ring star to find a new US promoter that would help him chart his illustrious boxing career.

Yesterday, Gary Shaw, chief executive officer of Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, announced that he has signed an exclusive promotional agreement with the former three-time world champion from General Santos City.

"As a promoter, you always hope to sign a 'blue chip' athlete who will win a world title. Today, I have signed a 'platinum chip' world class champion whose persona transcends sports and approaches folk lore in The Philippines. I feel privileged that Manny has chosen me as his promoter," said Shaw.

"Manny has a superb management team in Shelly Finkel, Nick Khan and Keith Davidson, as well as a Hall-of-Fame caliber trainer in Freddie Roach. I look forward to working together with them and I am truly honored that the team has placed its confidence in me. One thing we already agree on - Manny will get the biggest hotel room," added Shaw.

Shaw began his New Jersey-based company in 2002, bringing a unique background from the regulatory and promotional sides of boxing. A member of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission from 1971-1998, Shaw then ran Main Events as its COO for the next four years before leaving to start his own company.

Shaw has promoted or co-promoted some of the biggest fights in the past seven years, including: Lewis vs. Tyson; Trinidad vs. Vargas; Castillo vs. Corrales; Lewis vs. Klitschko; Tyson vs. Etienne; Tyson vs. Williams; Trinidad vs. Wright; Mosley vs. Wright; Lewis vs Tua, among others.

Pacquiao signed a pact with Shaw two months after he agreed to an off-court settlement offered to him by Murad with regards to the landmark $33 million suit he filed against the controversial American promoter in a New York federal court.

This will surely be a huge ego-booster for Pacquiao (39-3-2 (31KOs), who is set to clash with Mexican Hector Velasquez (42-10-2, 31KOs) in a 12-round super featherweight bout on September 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Mexican star Erik Morales (48-2, 34KOs) will also appear in the HBO-televised card billed as "Double Trouble" against 1996 USA Olympian Zahir Raheem (26-1, 16KOs).

If Pacquiao and Morales both win, they are expected to figure in a grudge rematch in the early part of 2006. Morales beat Pacquiao via close, but well-deserved unanimous decision in their first encounter on March 19 of this year as the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.