Pacquiao defense to showcase Mindanao

Imagine International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao riding a banca, cheered by thousands of adoring fans, on his way to a makeshift ring in the sprawling Agro-Industrial Foundation College campus on the banks of the Davao River.

That’s how North Cotabato Governor and Confederation of Mindanao Governors president Manny Pinol envisions Pacquiao’s grand entrance in the third defense of his crown against Thai challenger Fahprakob Rakkiat-gym in Davao City on Oct. 19.

Pinol told The STAR the other day it’s all systems go for the scheduled 12-round title fight. He initially planned to stage the bout on Oct. 12 but postponed it a week so as not to conflict with the closing ceremonies of the Asian Games in Busan.

Pinol said the publicity for the fight will showcase what Mindanao has to offer as an investment window of opportunity. "We will project Davao as our beckoning light," he noted. "It is peaceful and progressive. We want to introduce Davao and the whole of Mindanao to the world."

Fate brought Pacquiao and Pinol together in Davao City last week. Pinol invited Pacquiao to attend a press conference at the Marco Polo Hotel where amateur standout Danilo Lerio announced his decision to turn pro. Pinol asked Pacquiao if he would agree to appear in a non-title fight in Davao after his next defense which the Governor thought was set in the US. When Pacquiao said nothing was certain on the defense, Pinol immediately sent a text message to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to find out if he would be interested in hosting the fight.

"Mayor Duterte was receptive," related Pinol. "That started it. Mayor Duterte is the key because Davao is the door that will bring in investors to Mindanao."

Early this week, Pinol made a firm offer to Pacquiao–an P8 Million purse. Pacquiao then consulted his business manager Rod Nazario.

Pacquiao arrived in Manila from General Santos City last Tuesday. He conferred with Nazario at the L&M gym in Sampaloc and they agreed to Pinol’s offer. Nazario later advised New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad of the coming defense.

Last month, Pacquiao and Nazario inked a $2.5 Million, eight-fight, 2 1/2 year extension of Muhammad’s exclusive promotional rights to the IBF titlist in the US. The contract allows Nazario to negotiate a promotion in the Philippines.

Nazario confirmed that IBF president Marian Muhammad has ruled that Pacquiao must stake his crown against Fahprakob in a mandatory defense. In the wake of the ruling, Fahprakob’s manager Jimmy Ekarat Chaichotchuang offered a purse of $70,000 for Pacquiao to defend the title in Bangkok. Nazario laughed off the bid.

Fahprakob agreed to step aside for Pacquiao to fight Jorge Eliecer Julio on the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson undercard in Memphis last June on condition that he will be the next challenger. That condition was the basis of the IBF ruling on the mandatory defense.

Nazario said Fahprakob previously asked for a $40,000 purse to fight Pacquiao here but has since reduced his price to $25,000.

Pinol estimated a budget of P12 to 14 million to stage the promotion. "We will, of course, ask support from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, PAGCOR and the government banking institutions," he said. "We will also ask advertisers from Davao. We expect support from the local government units because we will be promoting their areas and Davao businessmen because they will benefit from the media mileage."

Pinol said if the Agro Industrial Foundation College campus isn’t available, another option is to stage the fight at the Parents Teachers Association grounds in the heart of Davao City near the Apo View Hotel. He said the fight will be an open air affair, free to the public except for a special ringside section. "Mayor Duterte wants to give everyone a chance to watch Manny in action," noted Pinol.

On the status of Pacquiao’s estranged manager Marty Elorde, Nazario said he is willing to talk to him. "Pinatawad na siya ni Manny," continued Nazario. "I’m open to talk to him but nahihiya yata sa akin at siya kasi ang nagumpisa ng gulo. Anyway, I never terminated his contract because I have no authority to do it. It was Manny who terminated him and Manny who forgave him."

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Eduardo Villanueva yesterday summoned Elorde, Nazario and Pacquiao to a hearing at his Makati office. The hearing was precipitated by Elorde revoking Nazario’s contract as business manager and Pacquiao terminating Elorde’s contract as manager. Both five-year contracts were signed in January 2000.

Nazario said Elorde has no authority to unilaterally cancel his contract.

Pacquiao terminated Elorde’s contract in a show of support for Nazario who has guided his career since 1995. The tug-of-war for Pacquiao’s sympathy prompted Villanueva to call the hearing and forestall a legal battle.

But last week, Elorde jumped the gun on Villanueva by agreeing to retain Nazario as the exclusive negotiator for Pacquiao’s fights. Elorde told Pacquiao his decision in a Davao City meeting with Pinol.

In yesterday afternoon’s two-hour hearing, Elorde was represented by his uncle Lope (Jun) Sarreal Jr. Pacquiao and Nazario attended with Villanueva presiding. Also present were lawyer Butch Cleofe, GAB commissioners Emmanuel Palabrica and Angel Bautista, and GAB boxing chief Noli Flores.

The opposing parties formally withdrew their complaints and agreed–in writing–to abide by the terms of their original contracts signed in 2000. The amicable settlement was applauded by Pacquiao who said with the conflict resolved, he can now concentrate on training for his next fight.

Fahprakob, 27, turned pro in 1992 and has a 37-2 record, with 23 knockouts. He was once the World Boxing Federation (WBF) bantamweight champion and is the IBF Intercontinental superbantamweight titleholder. Among his victims were Filipinos Dodong Virtudazo, Rolando Pritos, and Bobby Rabanos. In his most recent outing last March, Fahprakob stopped Mohammad Cifota in two rounds. Last December, the Thai southpaw decisioned Anthony Hannah in an eight-round bout in England.