By Ryan Burton
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is in the Philippines this week to finalize former multi-division champion Manny Pacquiao's November 5th pay-per-view ring return. The frontrunner for the fight is WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas with unbeaten WBO/WBC super lightweight champion Terence Crawford also in the mix for the fight.
It was recently revealed that Adrien Broner turned down a reported offer of $4 million dollars plus the chance to earn more with pay-per-view upside if the event sold well. WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia also said that he turned down an offer of $3-4 million dollars himself - while Arum denies ever making an offer for the services of Garcia.
Former welterweight champion Andre Berto, who has the same adviser as Broner and Garcia - Al Haymon - gave his take on the situation while speaking to the media.
"I think about it like this, (Broner) and I heard Danny turned the fight down as well. Broner feels that he brings a lot to the table but to fight a guy like Pacquiao and to make the most money of your career and a chance to shock the world. To turn that down - you got a pack of lions at 147 - so you are going to be rolling the dice every fight, every fight for no where near that type of money," said Broner.
Berto can understand why both fighters feel they are worth a bigger percentage of the total revenue pie against Pacquiao but feel the that the risk/reward ratio is far greater with Pacquiao than some of the young fighters in Haymon's welterweight stable.
"If you step up and fight one of the best in the game and you beat him it takes you to a whole other level. Turning that down I understand pride wise, that you feel you should be making a certain amount of money, but this is the most you have ever made in your career and like I said you turn that down and you are rolling the dice versus some of these lions at '47," Berto told BoxingScene.com.
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