Pacquiao in HBO talks today

NEW YORK — Consensus world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and business manager Rod Nazario are confident of swinging a $1-Million contract for a May 22 fight in negotiations with Home Box Office (HBO) vice president for sports Gary Davis at the cable network headquarters here this morning.

Pacquiao and Nazario left Manila last Friday night and arrived here yesterday from San Francisco. They were invited to watch a National Basketball Association (NBA) game between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden yesterday afternoon but couldn’t make the 1 p.m. tipoff.

Nazario said Pacquiao is in good spirits–"as usual"–and hoping to bag the richest contract in his storybook career that started in 1995. He expected the talks to begin with the May 22 discussion and may extend to cover two more bouts up to March or April next year. The objective is to ink a multi-fight contract, added Nazario.

"I’m looking at three fights although the discussion will start with the May 22 date that HBO has set aside for Manny," said Nazario.

Pacquiao’s US agent Murad Muhammad will likely join in the negotiations with Davis. It was Muhammad who convinced Nazario and Pacquiao to fly here to firm up the HBO talks. The trip was postponed early this year because Nazario underwent a medical procedure to remove stones in his right kidney.

Nazario could not confirm HBO’s choice as Pacquiao’s opponent although he said the network is leaning towards International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico. The site is also up in the air.

Nazario said after the May 22 fight, he will book Pacquiao for another bout in September or October. Then, Pacquiao will take a holiday rest before returning to action in March or April.

"Manny’s ready to fight anybody," said Nazario. "Marquez, Erik Morales, Paulie Ayala, Oscar Larios, Johnny Tapia or even (Marco Antonio) Barrera in a rematch. We’ll program his schedule with HBO and negotiate for the biggest possible purse."

Nazario said his dream is to arrange a $2 Million paycheck for Pacquiao in a Barrera return bout. That could be the fight in March or April next year assuming Pacquiao and Barrera win their tune-ups.

Asked if Marquez’ promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank will attend the negotiations, Nazario said he has not been advised.

"I don’t know Arum," said Nazario. "I have no idea if he’s coming. I’m not in contact with him. As for Murad, I think he’ll be there. He has to be. He set up the meeting."

Nazario said he welcomes Marquez as Pacquiao’s next opponent because the Mexican holds two world crowns. Pacquiao, who relinquished his IBF superbantamweight title, is an uncrowned champion.

"After Manny beats Marquez, we can go for a big unification fight against the winner of the In Jin Chi-Michael Brodie rematch for the WBC (World Boxing Council) title," said Nazario. "That could be Manny’s second fight so he will end the year with the IBF, WBA and WBC titles. Then, he’ll fight Barrera in a rematch for $2 Million."

Nazario said the word is HBO has allocated a $1.5 Million budget for the May 22 bout. If Pacquiao sticks to his asking purse of $1 Million, Marquez will be paid only about $300,000. Arum reportedly said he doesn’t mind the numbers because a victory over Pacquiao will open doors for the Mexican but Marquez is insisting on receiving an equal purse as the defending double champion.

If the impasse is not resolved, Nazario said Pacquiao could face Larios instead. Larios’ manager is Oscar de la Hoya. Larios, 27, is scheduled to defend his WBC superbantamweight diadem against Shigeru Nakazato in Saitama, Japan, on March 6. He is Barrera’s stablemate.

Marquez, 30, has a 42-2 record, with 33 KOs. Among his victims were Filipinos Baby Lorona Jr. and Reynante Jamili. Pacquiao, 25, boasts a 38-2-1 mark with 29 KOs.

Nazario said he plans to take Pacquiao to Orlando, Florida, for a short break immediately after the HBO meeting. They are booked to return to Manila on Thursday morning.