Legal row dims Pacman rematch

Unless Top Rank and Golden Boy settle their differences, on or off the court, a Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez rematch by the end of the year will be easier said than done.

Top Rank, owned by Bob Arum, and Golden Boy, owned by Oscar dela Hoya, are both claiming to be Pacquiao’s rightful promoter, with each outfit holding on to a contract signed by the 28-year-old slugger.

The case had gone to court, and may take some time before it is settled. For this reason, Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera never got to stage a rematch, and Marquez stepped into the picture.

Marquez did not waste the golden opportunity, beating Barrera yesterday at Mandalay in Las Vegas to crown himself as the new WBC super-featherweight champion.

Pacquiao is now in Los Angeles to train for his April 15 bout against Jorge Solis. The left-handed sensation had just planed in from Manila when he caught the Barrera-Marquez fight on television.

Suddenly, Marquez faces the biggest paycheck of his career with a fight against Pacquiao, plus a chance to settle an old score with the Filipino who knocked him down thrice in 2004 en route to a controversial draw.

But Marquez, like Barrera, is under Golden Boy. And again, the court battle between the two giant promotional outfits may stand in the way of a Pacman vs Marquez card.

Marquez, who looked more fearsome and tougher than Barrera, said the fallen champion deserves a rematch. "If not, Pacquiao can be next," he said after the fight.

Pacquiao’s legal adviser, Franklin Gacal, yesterday said he hoped that Top Rank and Golden Boy come to terms, or the case settled by the court, and begin talks for a Pacquiao-Marquez by October.

"I think and I hope that the case will be settled," said Gacal who pitied Barrera for throwing away a multi-million-dollar chance to fight Pacquiao instead.

Barrera shook his head after Marquez was declared the winner. He knew he fought the wrong opponent for the wrong price and for the wrong reason.

"Bob Arum was right after all that Marquez is not the right opponent for Barrera. And despite the court case, he made a couple of offers for Barrera to face Pacquiao," said Gacal.

"But Barrera and Golden Boy refused them all, including a P3 million purse for Barrera. I’m sure he got a lot less for facing Marquez, and now he’s lost the title, too. He was in a no-win situation against Marquez," he added.

"Now, he’s finished," added Gacal of Barrera. "And granting that he dares Pacquiao to a rematch, he’ll be paid no more than a million. Without the title, Barrera doesn’t command a price."

Gacal said this should serve as an "eye-opener" for both Top Rank and Golden Boy to settle their differences, and stage the fight that will make everybody happy.

"Otherwise, Marquez will end up fighting lesser opponents, or face Barrera in a rematch, and earn less. He’s not as popular as Pacquiao who now commands a high price regardless of the opponent."