$2-M for Pacquiao?

NEW YORK CITY — Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) import recruiter Sam Unera said the other day he could convince former heavyweight boxing champion and close friend Larry Holmes to put up a $2 Million purse for Manny Pacquiao to face either Paulie Ayala or Erik Morales in a blockbuster featherweight duel in Manila or the US.

Unera, whom I met on the Northwest Airlines flight from Manila to Detroit via Nagoya a few days ago, said Pacquiao’s recent knockout victory over Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio installed the hard-hitting Filipino as the hottest ticket in the sport’s lighter divisions today.

Holmes lives in Scranton, close to where Unera resides with his family in Allentown. Holmes’ daughter used to be a cheerdancer for the United States Basketball League (USBL) club Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs whose general manager is Unera.

"I’m sure Larry would foot the bill," said Unera. "He likes Filipinos and his closest friends are Filipinos. In fact, his personal physician is a Filipino doctor Manny Espinosa. Larry once visited Manila–he knocked out Rodney Bobick in the undercard of the ‘Thrilla In Manila’ in 1975. He wouldn’t mind bringing the next Pacquiao fight to Manila. If Ayala is Pacquiao’s next opponent, imagine the headline–Ayala in Manila."

Pacquiao’s stunning win over Barrera made the headlines in US newspapers. In the current issue of the Spanish-language monthly boxing magazine "Guantes," Pacquiao is on the cover. He’s shown wearing his trademark red "No Fear" headband with his gloves raised and a rosary around his neck. "Guantes," a 25-year-old publication, caters to the Hispanic boxing fan and is as popular as The Ring Magazine.

Beside Pacquiao’s photograph is a quote from Pacquiao in Spanish–"Yo puedo terminar con la racha de victories de Marco Antonio Barrera, asegura el Filipino Manny Pacquiao" ("I can end the winning streak of Marco Antonio Barrera, assures the Filipino Manny Pacquiao"). Under the quote is a word of caution from the magazine’s editors–"La inactividad de siete meses, puede ser peligrosa para Marco Antonio Barrera" ("A seven-month inactivity could be dangerous for Marco Antonio Barrera"). I paid $3.50 for the pre-fight issue in a New York City newsstand on Times Square.

Unera was in Manila when Pacquiao fought Barrera and watched the fight on TV with long-time pal Robert Jaworski in the senator’s Corinthian Gardens home.

Another of Unera’s closest friends is Valley Dawgs coach and former National Basketball Association (NBA) backboard breaker Darryl Dawkins. Unera said there’s an updated version of Dawkins’ autobiography "Chocolate Thunder" in bookstores. He brought Dawkins to conduct clinics in Manila two years ago. Unera and Dawkins are partners in a new sports apparel line called OT (for overtime).

Unera said recruiting imports is a difficult proposition. "It’s a big responsibility," said Unera. "You don’t want to send bum imports although if you do, you could earn a lot because you get a commission each time you fly in an import. As for me, I don’t charge a commission until my import wins a championship."

Unera noted that PBA commissioner Noli Eala’s suggestion of adjusting the league calendar to free July, August and September for overseas competition is welcome news. "We could use the time to set up an import camp in the US like the Koreans," he said. "We could invite players to try out and fly in PBA coaches and managers to watch them. For my part, I could pay for the hotel and living expenses of the coaches and managers. This will dramatically reduce the chances of signing up bum imports."

Unera’s eldest son Chris, 16, is a junior varsity football and basketball player at Notre Dame-Green Pond. Aside from being a star athlete, Unera’s son is an honor student who aspires to be a doctor. According to writer Andre Williams, he has never had a grade below C and has a 3.6 grade point average. Williams wrote a feature story on Chris in the town newspaper ‘The Morning Call.’

Unera’s other sons Sean, 14, and Chad, 11, are also involved in sports.

"This is the first time that I’ve heard of a Filipino playing football," said the proud father. "It’s basketball, boxing or soccer which most Filipinos play but not American football." Fil-Am Roman Gabriel once played pro football but wasn’t a full-blooded Filipino.

Notre Dame coach Jim Mazza spoke highly of his 5-10, 190-pound prospect. "Chris is doing a nice job," said Mazza. "As we get this position mastered, I’m sure we will get some other things mastered. He has such quick feet and reaction that it (down linesman) would be the easiest position for him to gravitate to because he could just use his natural instincts."