Nazario says Pacquiao situation under control

Despite a swirl of controversy threatening to upset International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s fistic career, his business manager Rod Nazario told The Star yesterday there is no confusion in the fighter’s camp.

"Magulo raw ang kampo namin," said Nazario. "But in my mind, the situation is under control. Marami lang tayo nababasa sa dyaryo na haka-haka. Hindi naman totoo."

Nazario admitted after Pacquiao stopped Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio last November, several quarters tried to cash in on the newly crowned people’s world featherweight titlist by offering to take over his US promotional contract from Murad Muhammad of the New Jersey outfit M&M Sports. Even Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach attempted to get a bigger piece of the action, bidding to tie up with Beverly Hills lawyers Keith Davidson and Nicholas Khan as co-managers.

There was also an attempt by an alleged "scam artist" from New York to lure Barrera to Manila for a Pacquiao rematch in April.

Nazario, however, said the Pacquiao camp is sticking to its commitment to Murad whose contract expires on Jan. 31, 2005. Pacquiao himself commented that if he breaks off with Murad before the contract lapses, his credibility in future negotiations will suffer.

"It will be Manny’s show, his ball game, starting Feb. 1, 2005 kasi that’s when all of our contracts expire," explained Nazario. "So it will be up to him what to do next. Murad’s contract will expire. My contract as business manager will expire and so will Marty Elorde’s contract as manager. Bahala na siya how he plans to manage his career."

As regards the negotiations with Home Box Office (HBO) cable TV for a duel with unified IBF and World Boxing Association featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, Nazario said the fight is still alive. Murad spoke to Nazario in a long distance phonecall yesterday morning and asked when he could fly to New York with Pacquiao to finalize the talks.

Nazario said Pacquiao arrived in Manila from General Santos City yesterday and is booked to film commercials this week. Pacquiao will definitely attend the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night on Jan. 9.

"Baka, makaalis kami ni Manny ng Jan. 11, which is a Sunday," said Nazario. "Tamang-tama, we will arrive in the US on the same day then we can sit down with the HBO people on Monday. We should be back after two or three days."

On a report that Roach has quit as Pacquiao’s trainer, Nazario said there’s no cause for alarm. His son Roberto, who lives in San Francisco, talked to Roach the other day and said the trainer was agreeable "to clear up things" with Murad.

"Okay na raw si Freddie," said Nazario. "Nabulag lang ‘ata si Freddie sa offer ng mga abogado niya. Talaga naman nakakagulat ‘yung offer na $25 to 30 Million for six fights in two years. Pati si Manny nabulag. But ‘di ko pinaniwalaan ‘yon. My son asked Freddie to talk things over with Murad and me before going to the press."

Nazario disclosed that for the Barrera fight, he paid Roach a flat fee of $25,000. "I told Freddie before the fight I would pay him that much and he agreed," said Nazario. "In Manny’s previous fights, I paid him five percent, net of taxes, kasi the other five percent went to our Filipino trainers, Lito (Mondejar) and Buboy (Fernandez). Sa totoo lang, the trainer’s cut is only three percent if a purse is in seven figures. Freddie never complained until the lawyers started making noise."

Nazario said Davidson and Khan arranged to extend Pacquiao’s working visa in the US for three years. Initially, the lawyers billed a fee of $12,000. Nazario said he bargained it down to $10,000.

"After Manny beat Barrera, the lawyers talked to me, insisting they could arrange a six-fight, two-year deal for $25 to 30 Million," continued Nazario. "I couldn’t believe it. Freddie assured me the lawyers were dependable and honorable. The lawyers wanted to take over from Murad."

One of the lawyers, Davidson, flew to Manila last month to pursue a contract with Pacquiao.

"I gave certain conditions to Davidson," revealed Nazario. "I wanted a guarantee that in case Murad sues Manny for breach of contract, Davidson and Khan would take care of the case. I wanted a guarantee for the next fight to be held in March or April for $1.5 Million on HBO. The suggested opponent was Johnny Tapia. I wanted a $500,000 deposit."

Nazario said when Davidson later sent the draft of a contract, it had no mention of a two-year deal or a deposit. The draft also was silent on what to do in case of a suit from Murad. Instead, the draft stipulated a 20 percent share of Pacquiao’s gross purse for Khan and Roach as his new managers.