The real deal - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

San Francisco immigration lawyer Sydney Hall hit the jackpot when he sealed the deal for Manny Pacquiao to challenge International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior featherweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba of Soweto, South Africa, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on June 23.

Pacquiao, manager Marty Elorde, and business agent Rod Nazario left for the US last May 17 to look for the pot of gold. Hall initially arranged for the group to live in a three-bedroom house in Colma, near San Francisco, with featherweight Orlando Villaflor and trainer Jun Montesa.

When word got around that Pacquiao was in town, several promoters contacted Hall – known in US boxing circles as the "pipeline" to the Philippines. Don Chargin, Tom Brown of America Presents, and Murad Muhammad had heard of Pacquiao but they wanted to know if he was for real. Hall assured them that Pacquiao is the real deal.

"I honestly think that Manny can be there with (Erik) Morales or (Marco Antonio) Barrera right now," said Hall, quoted by Kurt Emhoff in the maxboxing.com website. "The proportion of his punch to his weight is about the same on the spectrum as the Prince (Naseem Hamed). If you’re in front of him, you’re not going to understand where the power is coming from."

Hall coordinated with Elorde and Nazario to bring Pacquiao to the US. He’d previously brought in Gerry Peñalosa, Luisito Espinosa, Vernie Torres, Villaflor, and Jerry Balabagan.

"I’ve become the talent scout for the Philippines," said Hall, whose father Sydney, Sr. was a wrestling, soccer, football, and track Hall of Fame coach at Howard University, a Washington, DC school.

Hall went to Howard Law School and earned his degree in 1987. He joined a Maryland law firm that was involved in sports litigation, among others. Hall later set up his own office in the Bay Area. Many of his clients are Filipinos with immigration problems. His staff is made up of Filipinos. It was inevitable that Hall would someday find a reason to visit the Philippines.

In 1996, Hall met Peter Mutuc, a Filipino who claimed ties with the Ramos Administration, in San Francisco. Mutuc invited Hall to visit Manila and confer with President Ramos’ daughter Cristy on the possibility of promoting a sequel to the 1975 "Thrilla In Manila," featuring world lightheavyweight Roy Jones.

Hall stayed in Manila for two months, trying to cook up the project, but to no avail. As he circulated in local boxing circles, Hall found himself increasingly drawn to the fight game. Before long, he was hooked into it.

Hall also attempted to stage the Laila Ali-Jacqui Frazier fight here. That, too, never got off the ground. It was finally held in New York last weekend–without Hall’s participation.

Finding no luck as a promoter, Hall decided to export Filipino fighters to the US instead.

"I always state that I’m a business manager or agent. I don’t manage boxers," said Hall. "My problem is, once the boxer gets a manager, the boxer forgets about me. I’m usually the guy fishing him out of the water putting up the initial five, 10 grand. But once they taste success–well, you know how boxing is."

Hall recalled that after bringing Torres to the Jones camp in 1999, he was left out in the cold. He was supposed to receive a 7% share of Torres’ purses in the US but Jones wouldn’t hear of it. So when the Jones group arranged for Torres to travel to Nicaragua to challenge World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior bantamweight titlist Adonis Rivas last year, Hall put his foot down. Using his knowledge of immigration law, Hall prevented Torres from leaving the US because of visa complications.

In the end, Jones’ lawyer Fred Levin backed down and offered Hall a 10 percent cut of Torres’ purses in exchange for legal advice on his immigration problems.

"That law degree from Howard does come in handy sometimes," joked Hall.

Because of his increasing involvement in the fight game, Hall is now doing more and more work for boxers. He sorted out Ghanaian Ike Quartey’s immigration problems and is now arranging US visas for Venezuelan pugs Yobert Ortega and Jose Valbuena.

Hall offered former lightheavyweight contender Terry Lee to train Pacquiao in Concord, an hour’s drive from Colma. Lee was in Villaflor’s corner when he stopped Luis Lizarraga of Mexico in their Pier 32 brawl a few weeks ago. Pacquiao went to Lee’s gym and left his amateur welterweight sparmate badly battered.

After almost a week in San Francisco, Nazario took Pacquiao and Elorde to Los Angeles where he arranged for training in Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym.

Meanwhile, Hall continued to talk to promoters in Pacquiao’s behalf.

Showing keen interest was Murad whose fighter, WBC superwelterweight titleholder Javier Castillejo of Spain, will defend his crown against Oscar de la Hoya in the main event of the June 23 card.

Last week, Murad flew to San Francisco and Hall met him at the airport. Murad promised to find a slot for Pacquiao in the Las Vegas bill. The first opponent in line was former IBF flyweight champion Francisco Tejedor of Colombia. Another was Fahprakob Rakkiat-gym of Thailand.

Suddenly, the big break came. Ledwaba, booked to face challenger Enrique Sanchez of Mexico in the MGM Grand undercard, was without an opponent. Sanchez had backed out because of an injury. Murad offered the fight to Pacquiao for a $40,000 purse. The deal was sealed.

Hall described Pacquiao as "the pride of the Philippines" and said he’s not in the US to lose. The ultimate goal is for Pacquiao to bid for the WBC title. But he won’t pass up the opportunity to snatch the IBF crown from Ledwaba before a huge pay-per-view audience.

"This is Manny’s big chance," said Hall. "If he beats Ledwaba–and I think he will, Manny will be just one or two fights away from a $1 million purse."

To be sure, Ledwaba is a tough customer. It won’t be easy taking the crown away from the 29-year-old South African who boasts a 33-1-1 record, with 22 KOs. But Pacquiao, 22, is ready to let it all hang out. His chance of a lifetime has come.