By Ronnie Nathanielsz

NEVADA State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer said the Commission does not have a bout contract signed by Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao for the Erik Morales fight last Nov. 18, which included a prohibition against the Filipino signing a contract with any other promoter until after the bout.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum maintained that Pacquiao signed a fight contract that included such a prohibition, which was effectively violated when he signed a seven-fight deal with Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions in mid-September. This triggered a lawsuit by Golden Boy for tortuous interference after Arum announced he had signed the Pacquiao to a four-year deal at the Pacquiao-Morales post-fight news conference.

Kizer also said the commission did not have a copy of the four-year promotional contract Arum announced in the post-fight news conference. In his response, the executive director of NSAC said: “Promoters must file bout agreements with us, but not promotional agreements. We do not have the promotional agreement you seek.”

In a follow-up request, Viva Sports/Standard Today inquired whether there was a stipulation in the fight contract signed by Pacquiao, which, as Arum claimed, prevented him from signing with another promoter until after the Nov. 18 Morales fight.

Kizer replied: “I do not know. We would not have that information. You should check with Top Rank."