Pacquiao flies to US Friday to sign contract vs Marquez

Manny Pacquiao will leave for the United States Friday to sign a contract for a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in December, according to longtime lawyer Franklin Gacal Jr.

Gacal will accompany Pacquiao when the latter leaves Friday.

Details of the fight will be announced later, with Pacquiao to immediately start the fight’s promotional tour while in the US.

It is believed that among the contentious issues preventing Pacquiao from agreeing to another fight deal with Marquez was his guaranteed purse.

Gacal however declined to give any comment on how much Pacquiao will get in this fight.

“It is still subject to discussion,” Gacal said.

Pacquiao and Marquez fought three memorable battles — all ending up in hairline decisions.

The Filipino legend, however, enjoys the edge over Marquez, having won two of their previous fights via split decisions. Their first fight ended in a controversial draw in May 2004 after Marquez survived three knockdowns in the first round to rally and retain his World Boxing Council featherweight crown.

The Filipino boxing icon then rose to become the number one pound-for-pound boxing king and replaced Oscar de la Hoya as a king of pay-per-view fights in 2009.

Pacquiao is coming off a controversial loss against American Timothy Bradley where he lost his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

Many believed Pacquiao was robbed of the decision. The Nevada State Athletic Commission later asked the judges who scored the fight to explain their scores. But no sanctions were imposed against the judges.

Pacquiao is widely believed to be contemplating retirement as he seemed to be running out of marquee opponents with the exception of the flamboyant Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather, however, keeps on insisting on his terms before taking a much anticipated fight with Pacquiao.

A Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is being touted as a possible fight of the century affair between two of the biggest box office attractions in boxing.

Gacal said Pacquiao will still return to the Philippines after signing the fight deal with Marquez before going into serious training.

Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach has already expressed his desire to have Pacquiao in the US for the duration of his training.

Roach said Marquez has always given Pacquiao a hard fight.

The 53-year old American trainer said Pacquiao must not have any of the distractions that attended his previous fights as a loss to Marquez could spoil his box office appeal.

source: interaksyon.com

Rampage Jackson as B. A. Barracus in 'The A-Team'

MANILA, Philippines – Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champion turned Hollywood actor, recently visited the training camp of boxing champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in Baguio City.

The short visit, during which the two talked and shared a meal, was detailed via a report on GMA News.

The report said that Jackson, who played the role of B. A. Barracus in the 2010 hit movie, “The A- Team,” was all praises for Pacquiao, lauding the latter for his fighting skills.

In a subsequent interview on “Unang Hirit,” Pacquiao said he was delighted that Jackson exerted effort to call on him if only too briefly.

“Masaya tayo, dahil nagpunta pa siya rito para lang kamustahin tayo,” he said.

It was the first meeting between the two fighters, both of whom are being coached by trainer, Freddie Roach.

In the same interview, Pacquiao denounced reports that he sacked his long-time conditioning coach Alex Ariza; this, supposedly for feuding with his personal adviser Michael Koncz and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. The rumor exploded over the weekend when Atriza was seen departing for Manila from Baguio City.

According to Pacquiao, there is no truth to the rumor.

“Wala, wala. Maraming lang inggit siguro and I pray for them,” he said.

Seemingly eager to douse further speculation, Pacquiao intimated that they even tendered a surprise party for Ariza very recently.

Ariza has been part of Pacquiao’s camp since 2008, when the pride of Saranggani tapped the former’s expertise in his fight with boxer David Diaz.

source: mb.com.ph