By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The eminent lawyer and WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud has assailed the $450,000 purse being paid former two-time super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios for his scheduled WBC International title fight against Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2 and has come out strongly against the hiring of Michael Buffer as ring announcer, reportedly for $17,000 plus the services of a bodyguard.
Salud blasted organizers ABS-CBN for what he branded an "exhorbitant purse" for a fighter who is not even a champion. Salud told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today "I don't think he(Larios) got half that amount when he fought Israel Vasquez" to whom he lost the title in a third round TKO because of a nasty cut after being dropped in the first round last December.
The amount is actually far in excess of what Larios would have received for his planned WBC super bantamweight title rematch against Israel Vasquez who had beaten him twice and lost once before. The WBC announced last March 17 that Golden Boy Promotions had won the purse bid for the Vasquez-Larios title fight which gave Oscar De La Hoya’s promotions outfit the right to stage the fight.
The winning offer was $200,000 which, under WBC rules meant that Vasquez would get a purse of $150,000 and Larios twenty five percent or a mere $50,000 which is $400,000 less than he is set to receive for the Pacquiao fight which is merely an international title fight.
Salud lamented the fact that the dollars "come from the hard-earned money of our Overseas Filipino Workers" adding it is "an absolute waste of precious dollars." Salud also lambasted the bringing in of ring announcer Michael Buffer who reportedly travels first class and may bring along his wife which means additional costs. Salud said "this is adding insult to injury" stressing that there are equally excellent personalities such as PBA Commissioner Noli Eala or entertainer Martin Nivera who would do an excellent job.
Salud noted that during the famed "Thrilla in Manila" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, President Marcos had to his credit, insisted that Joe Cantada be the ring announcer and that a Filipino be the referee despite the fact that Don King had brought in his own talents to handle the tasks. Sonny Padilla was eventually chosen and made a name for himself by being the first referee to caution Ali for holding. Padilla went on to make it big in Las Vegas.
Even fight fans have questioned the huge purse of Larios on the Manny Pacquiao website. It was pointed out that former IBF and WBA featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez who drew with Pacquiao in 2004 received only $300,000 and in his recent title fight against Indonesian champion Cris John received less than $50,000. Salud emphasized that when Pacquiao himself fought Lelohonolo Ledwaba for the IBF junior featherweight title he received only $40,000.
Salud also criticized the high prices of tickets taking issue with the reported P1,000 for general admission. He said the staunchest supporters of Pacquiao come from the poorer classes and since Pacquiao said he wanted to fight before a hometown crowd it rings hollow in the face of the exceedingly high ticket prices. Salud added "this is not America, they need to be realistic."
In a Manny Pacquiao website poll on what his supporters want him to do now that Marco Antonio Barrera has come into the picture 47.7 percent say they want Pacquiao "to drop Larios like a hot potato and fight Barrera immediately" while 32.1 percent said Pacquiao should take on Larios first and then fight Barrera next and 20.4 percent indicated Pacquiao should fight Barrera only after the Morales fight in September.
