By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The manager of WBC featherweight champion In Jin Chi has asked well-known Japanese matchmaker, journalist and manager Joe Koizumi to handle the negotiations for the planned April 28 battle with Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao on behalf of the South Korean and indications are its almost done.
Respected businessman-sportsman Kusung Lee requested Koizumi to discuss details with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum after Korean boxing official Major Lee who had initial conversations with Arum fell ill. Kusung Lee hardly speaks English and depends on people like Major Lee and Koizumi to handle the negotiations .
WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud who is a good friend of Kusung Lee initially conveyed In Jin Chi’s willingness to move up to the super featherweight division to fight Pacquiao in the gambling enclave of Macau after Chi scored an impressive twelve round decision over Mexican Rodolfo Lopez to regain the world title recently.
At Salud’s request Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today contacted Arum who responded positively saying “this will be an interesting fight. In Jin Chi is a good fighter.” It was Arum who promoted the In Jin Chi title fight against Erik “El Terrible” Morales at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2001 and although Morales won a unanimous twelve round decision he had a huge swelling under his left eye and looked like he was the beaten fighter.
Salud disclosed that Koizumi was talking to both Arum and WBC president Jose Sulaiman about the In Jin Chi fight. Sulaiman had earlier told Viva Sports/Manila Standard that he had no objections to Pacquiao fighting the Korean. However, Sulaiman said after the March 17 WBC sanctioned title fight between champion Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, negotiations would have to begin for a Barrera title fight with the mandatory challenger Pacquiao in case Barrera retained his crown. Sulaiman said if free negotiations failed he would call for a purse bid within three weeks.
Pacquiao himself told us he would fight anybody provided the purse was good although he was concerned that “it might not be helpful because In Jin Chi is a featherweight” forgetting the fact that Oscar Larios moved up from super bantamweight to super featherweight to fight him in Manila last year and put up a good fight.
Arum told boxing writer Michael Marley that he had given the In Jin Chi camp a “good offer” and was expecting a response soon. Arum said his friend, casino owner Steve Wynn who owns the spanking new Wynn Hotel & Casino in Macau was “thrilled” at what Arum indicated would be a “huge event for Wynn’s property and a signature sports event.”
Pacquiao’s friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud, no relation to Rudy Salud said “we know In Jin Chi’s style. He is a fighter. It will be a good fight” and better than any of the nine opponents initially listed by Arum for Pacquiao to choose from. Salud said “this is good for the Filipinos who can fly there as well as the Koreans. This fight is good for Asia.” Salud indicated Pacquiao would probably announce his decision after his wife Jinkee's birthday which will celebrate today (Friday" at their plush new home in General Santos City.
