Boxing greats to be invited for ‘Pac’ bout

A chance to rub elbows with Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Bernard Hopkins, Oscar dela Hoya and yes, even Joe Frazier.

For fight fans willing to shell out more, this is what’s in store as organizers plans to bring in all these boxing superstars for the July 2 encounter between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Oscar Larios.

Ringside tickets for the next Pacquiao fight are unofficially pegged at P25,000 each or around $500, the normal selling price of choice seats even in the US. However, there are plans to sell "corporate seats" worth P50,000 each.

ABS- CBN, the giant television network, which owns the broadcast rights to the awaited 12-round bout, recently said it hoped to make the coming fight at the Araneta Coliseum star-studded and one to remember.

Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN vice-president for the Manila Radios and Sports, said their wish list is to have a star-studded cast at ringside led by Dela Hoya and Morales.

"Dela Hoya may come because Larios is under contract with the Golden Boy Promotions, or if he can’t, Hopkins may pitch in as part-owner of the outfit. We’ll love to have Barrera doing the fight broadcast and we’re even thinking of having Morales, if he’s in town, to do a guest role in one of our telenovelas," said Musngi.

Barrera, according to Team Pacquiao insider Erik Pineda, has volunteered to be one of the commentators for the card, which will also feature four other Mexicans to be pitted against Filipino fighters.

"That’s what Barrera wants. That if he wins his May 20 bout with Rocky Juarez at the Staples Center, he’d be coming over to watch the Pacquiao-Larios bout and act as a commentator," Pineda said.

Barrera is the reigning World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion. Pacquiao and Morales, who’ve figured in two classic, non-title bouts over the last year, are the top contenders.

For Barrera, Morales, Hopkins and Dela Hoya, this could be their first trip to Manila, but not Frazier.

Pineda said ABS-CBN is serious in trying to lure Frazier, the great heavyweight, to Manila, and relive those classic moments he spent at the Big Dome where he fought Muhammad Ali in the "Thrilla in Manila" on Oct. 1, 1975.

"That will truly be something if it happens," said Pineda of the possible return trip to Manila by Frazier, the man they call "Smokin Joe."

With or without Ali, the man they call "The Greatest," the coming Pacquiao-Larios fight will be as historic with Frazier around.