Manny sets up US company
The Las Vegas-based company is called MP Promotions USA and the president is Pacquiao’s brother Rogel. It will consolidate Pacquiao’s assets in the US.
“Manny wants his finances in order,” said the source. “We’re lucky that a financial planner, who’s a former IRS agent, has agreed to help out Manny, particularly in relation to taxes he has to pay.”
The financial planner is known for his list of celebrity clients, including athletes like Erik Morales.
Now that Top Rank and Golden Boy are in talking terms, opportunities for big fights are opening up for Pacquiao.
“I think Top Rank and Golden Boy getting together is good for boxing as a whole,” said the source. “And since Golden Boy has a lot of top fighters in Manny’s division, he can select his next opponent from a wide range of contenders. The partnership made possible Manny’s rematch against (Marco Antonio) Barrera and it’s also making possible the coming fights between Humberto Soto and Joan Guzman and Miguel Cotto and Sugar Shane Mosley.”
In agreeing to work as co-promoters, Top Rank and Golden Boy dropped the cases they filed against each other. The only pending case is Golden Boy’s suit against Pacquiao’s legal counsel Franklin (Jeng) Gacal and adviser Michael Koncz. But the case is as good as dropped with only the formality of informing the court holding it up.
The bitter rivalry stemmed from Oscar de la Hoya breaking away from Top Rank and organizing his own promotions company, Golden Boy, with Richard Schaefer and Eric Gomez. It took Pacquiao to resolve the dispute, paving the way for the parties to smoke the peace pipe.
Pacquiao recently said he intends to see action in three or four fights a year, depending on the degree of difficulty he encounters along the way. If the Barrera rematch ended early, Pacquiao would’ve signed for another fight in December. But since it went the distance, he may take a little longer to return to the ring. Besides, he still has a few scenes to shoot for his Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Anak Ni Kumander,” due for release in December.
The source said Macau is looming to be the hottest candidate as host of Pacquiao’s next fight. Vancouver is another possibility. A city in Mainland China is also an option.
Before Pacquiao struggled to make the 130-pound limit for Barrera, there was talk he would make his superfeatherweight farewell in his next fight then move up to lightweight. But it now appears Pacquiao will go straight to the 135-pound ranks.
The night before the weigh-in last Friday, Pacquiao tipped the scales four pounds over the limit and had to skip rope early the next morning to shed off some weight. He wrapped himself in a thick blanket from head to foot and squeezed himself dry only to scale a half-pound over just an hour before the weigh-in.
Pacquiao wept in exasperation and prayed for some kind of Divine Intervention, related his General Santos City friend Clem Asencio. Just when it seemed like Pacquiao had exhausted every avenue to lose weight, his stomach suddenly hurt and he rushed to the toilet. After relieving himself, Pacquiao was right on the button at 130 pounds. His prayers were answered.
If Pacquiao invades the lightweight division, the source said his target will be WBC champion David Diaz who barely decisioned Morales in his latest defense. Morales recently said he will unretire to face Diaz in a January rematch but Top Rank officials are reportedly urging him to stay retired.
- Latest
- Trending
