By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Promoter Murad Muhammad says that "the contracts are being finalized" for the planned December 4, 2004 bout at the Global City in Taguig, Metro Manila between Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao and WBO Intercontinental champion Gairy St. Clair of Australia.
Murad told Viva Sports/Manila Standard that in the meantime " it would be advisable" for Pacquiao to "stay focused," in obvious reaction to reports that Team Pacquiao was unhappy with Murad and that Pacquiao had no plans of extending his contract which supposedly expires next February. Roberto "Boying" Nazario, the son of Pacquiao's business manager Rod Nazario who handles his father's business in the US told Viva Sports, in an overseas telephone conversation, that Murad's contract was still "live" and he had two more Pacquiao fights.
However, Nazario admitted that Pacquiao was "very frustrated" especially when he asked Murad for a $25,000 advance and was given only $15,000 after having to wait, with Rod Nazario himself forced to contribute $5,000 with Murad putting up $10,000.
The promoter who helped Pacquiao get the breaks that launched his career in the US when he scored a devastating sixth round stoppage of IBF junior featherweight champion Lelohonolo Ledwaba and helped turn him into one of the most exciting fighters in the world with an eleventh round annihilation of legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, clarified that Mayor Freddie Tinga of Taguig "has no financial input" for the Pacquiao-St. Clair fight but that he "welcomes this bout, he will host the fight and welcomes us to his city."
Murad said "our associates will be announced when Rod Nazario and I arrive in the Philippines in a week or so, God willing." Earlier reports said Murad had been able to get a group to put up $650,000 to help underwrite some of the costs of staging the fight in Manila.
Mayor Tinga himself expressed the local government's willingness for the municipality to serve as the venue for Pacquiao’s next bout and promised to "lend full support for the project." A news release from the Taguig Public Information Office said "considering that Pacquiao has earned the respect of millions of Filipinos for having brought prestige and honor to our country, holding his next boxing match in Taguig will be a big boost to the town's continuing development. The bout will be a good promotion for Taguig and this will surely put Taguig on the map."
Meantime Murad, reacting to stories about his being junked by Pacquiao and the members of Team Pacquiao, retorted "what else is new? Controversy is what makes our sport the sweet science." He added "we will educate the people how boxing legends are made with loyalty, trust and bonding with the management and promoter who orchestrated the path of success from the beginning. History proves that unity is the key to success."
Pacquiao who is in General Santos with wife Jinkee, their two sons and Pacquiao's mother Dionisia and members of the family said he plans to return to Los Angeles in ten days to resume training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach where younger brother and Orient Pacific Boxing Federation No. 1 super featherweight and Philippine champion Bobby Pacquiao and OPBF No. 1 super flyweight Z "The Dream" Gorres are training and scheduled to make their US debut in fights scheduled for October 16 and November 12.
