By Ronnie Nathanielsz

International promoter Murad Muhammad said yesterday there was no need for Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao or his business manager Rod Nazario to worry about reports that the handlers of WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel  Marquez wanted more money than Marquez was offered for a rematch on February 26 in Las Vegas.

In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard, Murad said “tell ‘Pops’ (his nickname for Nazario) and Manny not to worry about Marquez. Leave that problem to me, I’ll take care of it.”  Murad was referring to a story by well-known boxing writer James Blears in the widely-read  website Boxing Scene in which he claimed Top Rank president Bob Arum’s son Todd Du Boef and Fernando Beltran were
“proving to be difficult by offering a ridiculous amount which is half as much as my fighter wants.” Beristain said “we want more because Marquez is the champion.  We want money not peanuts” and said he wanted “a minimum of $1.5 million.”

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Beristain threatened that unless  a deal with Top Rank officials who handle Marquez is concluded before mid-January, “I don’t think there’s going to be a fight.” Murad pointed out that Pacquiao not Marquez was the draw and that in his last title defense against Oscar Salido, Marquez received much less than when he fought Pacquiao last May. Murad said that despite the threats the fight will go on as scheduled.

At the same time Murad disclosed that flashy super flyweight Z “The Dream” Gorres who is handled in a partnership by WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud and well –known Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer would “definitely fight on the undercard” predicting that Gorres “will be the Philippines next world champion.”