$1-million purse for Manny still in works

It’s all about striking while the iron’s hot.

Consensus world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is shooting for a $1-million purse in his next fight, said his business manager Rod Nazario yesterday. And if the Home Box Office (HBO) cable TV network agrees to foot the bill, Nazario confirmed Pacquiao will face unified International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titlist Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in late March or early April.

Nazario said nothing is final but sent word that Pacquiao is willing to listen to offers starting at $1 million, net of tax.

HBO has indicated interest in the Pacquiao-Marquez duel, added Nazario. If it pushes through, Pacquiao’s US agent Murad Muhammad will promote the fight, probably in Las Vegas.

Marquez’ agent Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions is now talking terms with Muhammad. Arum has asked for a $400,000 purse for Marquez.

Nazario said he will likely fly with Pacquiao to New York on Friday to finalize the HBO agreement. Nazario said he expects the trip to take only a few days.

"We want to know exactly how much HBO is putting up," said Nazario. "May kumakalat na balita that HBO is offering us a six-fight $25-Million package. Daldal lang ‘yun. But we want to get to the bottom of it. Kaya, balak namin lumipad ni Manny so we can talk to HBO harap-harapan. Kasama rin namin si Murad so magkakaalaman na kaming lahat."

Nazario said unlike Marco Antonio Barrera, Marquez is still a hungry fighter and that makes him doubly dangerous. "Ngayon lang makakatikim ng malaki-laking premyo si Marquez kaya sa tingin ko, hard fight ito," added Nazario. "Napanood na namin ni Manny si Marquez on tape. Sabi ni Manny, kaya niyang talunin. Marquez is still rising. Is he an easier opponent than Barrera? I hope so."

As for the IBF’s order for a mandatory title defense against Jose Luis Valbuena, Nazario said it will be academic if the Marquez fight is booked. The IBF is conducting a purse bid for Pacquiao’s superbantamweight title defense against Valbuena on Dec. 29 in New Jersey. Nazario said Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Valbuena, isn’t inclined to promote the fight and wants HBO to stage it. The problem is HBO is more interested in bankrolling a Pacquiao-Marquez bout.

If negotiations firm up, Nazario said Pacquiao will initially train in Baguio–to get rid of hangers-on and to seclude himself. Then, he will move to Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood about 1 1/2 months before the fight.

Taking on Marquez will mean Pacquiao relinquishing the IBF 122-pound crown.

Nazario said if and when Pacquiao dethrones Marquez, he will challenge the winner of the In Jin Chi-Michael Brodie rematch for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight crown for the undisputed championship. That will unify the IBF, WBA and WBC champion in the 126-pound division and solidify Pacquiao’s place in boxing history.

"The rematch for the WBC title is scheduled in March which will also be when Manny fights Marquez, kung saka-sakali," said Nazario. "Then the unification fight between Manny and the Chi-Brodie winner can take place in June or July."

Marquez, 30, is nicknamed "Dinamita" and boasts a 42-2 record, with 33 knockouts. His only losses were in his pro debut to Javier Duran on a first round disqualification in 1993 and to Freddie Norwood on points in 1999. The disqualification was because of a quirk in Mexican rules throwing out a fighter who inflicts a cut by an accidental headbutt on an opponent unable to continue. Under usual rules, it should have been a technical draw since the fight was stopped in the first round. Marquez has won his last 13 fights.

Last month, Marquez scored a clear-cut seventh round technical decision over Derrick Gainer to unify the IBF and WBA titles in Michigan. The fight was stopped because Gainer couldn’t continue as a result of a cut from an accidental headbutt. Marquez led on all scorecards, 70-63, 70-63 and 69-64, to win the technical verdict.

Among Marquez’ victims were Filipinos Baby Lorona Jr. and Reynante Jamili and former world champions Manuel Medina, Agapito Sanchez and Cedric Mingo.