PACMAN SETTLES FOR P81 M

By Gerry Ramos


THE fight many foresee as the biggest and richest in boxing history will have to wait first.


For now, Manny Pacquiao will have to settle for less.

With Antonio Margarito stepping forward instead of loud mouth Floyd Mayweather Jr., no dream purse is expected to come Pacquiao’s way by the end of the year.

In its place, only a `moderate’ prize money of $15 million awaits the Filipino congressman for his Nov. 13 fight with the 32-year old Margarito, a far cry from the projected $40 million or more Pacquiao is expected to earn had Mayweather been the one he’s facing in the ring.

Still, his total earnings could go as high as $17 to $18 million (approximately P81 million on a P45-$1 exchange rate) once pay-per-view sales, ticket sales, gate receipts, merchandise and television rights are counted in.

That the bout for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) junior middleweight crown will be held at the 80,000-seater Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas makes it more feasible to gross in terms of ticket sales.

Top Rank Promotions chairman Bob Arum already projected a crowd of about 75,000 for the fight based on Pacquiao’s popularity and Margarito’s Hispanic roots, with Texas having a huge Hispanic population.

Arum even believes it will surpass the record crowd of 51,000 which watched Pacquiao demolish Joshua Clottey inside 12 full rounds last March for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title.

“I think the crowd will be much bigger,” he said.

“We have a lot of stuff that we didn’t have for the Clottey fight. With Margarito being Hispanic, and this is North Texas, which has a huge Hispanic population, that will make this even bigger.”

For the record, Pacquiao’s biggest fight in terms of prize money remains his 2008 slugfest with the great Oscar De La Hoya where he earned $15 million, minus his share in the pay-per-view, tickets, merchandise and TV rights.

Last year, he received $13 million each for taking on Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

In facing Clottey, Pacquiao brought home close to $15 million, including the fight purse of $12 million. The bout generated 700,000 pay-per-view buys or about $35.3 million in U.S domestic television revenue.

Arum said a Margarito bout is likely to produce the same number of buys – or even better.

“I think we could look to do 70,000 people” said Arum, who is expected to be back in the U.S. by weekend from his vacation in France.

“(Joshua) Clottey had no fan base. Margarito has a huge fan base of Mexican-Americans.”

The veteran promoter is wasting no time to hype and promote the title match that finally fell into place Thursday when the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation granted Margarito a boxing license.

Arum has already scheduled a whirlwind press tour next week to kick off the promotional hype of the fight.

With both Pacquiao and Margarito expected to sign the contract this weekend, the Top Rank big boss set a Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) press conference for the two at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles to kick off the week-long, three-state tour.

The following day, Pacquiao and Margarito are off to New York in Chelsea Piers-Pier 60, just within 23rd St. and the Hudson River.

By Friday, the tour culminates with the personal appearance of both fighters at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

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FIGHT IS ON

Margarito


By Gerry Ramos

TWO-time world champion Antonio Margarito is about to take on the richest fight of his colorful yet controversial boxing career.


And to think it was only a year ago when he was banned from fighting and branded as one of the most disgraced figure in the rich history of the sport.

Margarito’s title bout with ring sensation Manny Pacquiao was formalized Thursday when the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation granted the Mexican the license to fight in the state, paving the way for the Nov. 13 duel to go on as scheduled at the multi-billion Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

The fight will be the first in the U.S. for the `Tijuana Tornado’ in more than a year since losing a ninth round technical knockout against Sugar Shane Mosley at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in January of 2009.

The 32-year old Margarito was caught with a loaded hand wraps prior to the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight bout, a major offense that resulted in the revocation of his license and being banned from fighting for a year.

It also led to the parting of ways between him and long-time trainer Javier Capetillo, the veteran corner man and father figure to Margarito, whom he accused of being responsible for the loaded hand wraps he had for the Mosley fight.

But now, he’s back and all set to face the fighter universally regarded as the best in the world, pound-for-pound. Pacquiao is expected to earn $15 million and more from the fight, while Margarito could take home as much as $4 to $5 million.

“I have dedicated my life to giving the fans of the sport entertainment and excitement. On Nov. 13, this great opportunity will ultimately be fulfilled when I battle Manny Pacquiao,” said Margarito in a statement.

The Mexican also expressed his gratitude to the state of Texas for granting him a boxing license, something denied of him by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) and the Nevada State Athletic Commission when he tried to re-apply shortly after his one-year suspension was over.

“I want to thank the state of Texas for granting me a boxing license which enables me to continue my passion for the sport of boxing in the United States,” added Margarito, whose first comeback fight following the lifting of his suspension was a 10-round unanimous decision against Roberto Garcia in Mexico.

Unlike in the CSAC case when it held a hearing to determine the fate of Margarito, the Texas commission just went through the Mexican’s completed application, checked his proper medical paperwork and made him pay the $20 fee before being granted a license.

“After a thorough review of his application it was determined Mr. Margarito met the requirements of the Texas Combative Sports Act and Rules,” said William Kuntz, the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

None was happy for Margarito than Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who holds the promotional rights on both the Mexican and Pacquiao.

“For me, it was like a terrible nightmare, this whole thing, and now the sun is shining,” said Arum in an interview by ESPN from France where he is currently vacationing.

“I really believe that it will be a very competitive fight. One guy is much bigger and stronger (Margarito) and the other guy (Pacquiao) is quicker and hits with both hands. It will be a fascinating fight to watch.”

Arum already has contingency plans if and when Margarito fails to get a license in Texas, mentioning Mexico or Abu Dhabi as possible alternative site for the fight.

But with Texas acceding, Arum is taking the fight at the Cowboys Stadium, with hopes of surpassing the record crowd of 50,994 – one of the largest in U.S. boxing history – that watched Pacquiao’s lopsided win over Joshua Clottey last March for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown.

“I think the crowd will be much bigger and Jerry (Jones) – owner of the Dallas Cowboys team - thinks it will also,” Arum said. “The last fight (Pacquiao-Clottey) was not during football season. This one is, and we have all the Dallas Cowboys assets they use during the season to help this time.

“We have a lot of stuff that we didn't have for the Clottey fight. With Margarito being Hispanic, and this is North Texas, which has a huge Hispanic population, that will make this even bigger.”

The veteran promoter said Margarito is set to sight the contract by weekend, after which Pacquiao follows suit as he is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on Monday from Manila, where he currently sits as a member of the House of Representative.

A whirlwind press tour will then be held, taking both Pacquiao and Margarito to California, New York and finally, Texas.

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RP TEAM CALLS ON PSC CHIEF

MEMBERS of the PLDT/ABAP-Philippine boxing team, led by ABAP executive director Ed Picson, 9th from right, and currently training in the U.S. pay a courtesy call to Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, center, a the PSC office at the Rizal Memorial Sport Complex on Vito Cruz, Manila.

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ABAP CHIEF WELCOMES RP TEAM

AMATEUR Boxing Association of the Philippines president and Maynilad chief executive Ricky Vargas, center in white, clenches his fist along with ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio, executive director Ed Picson, left, and coaches and members of the national boxing team who paid a courtesy call at his Maynilad office in Quezon City prior to their departure to the U.S. for a month-long training camp.

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RP PUGS IN U.S. TRAINING

THE US training camp for members of the national pool of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) reeled off Saturday at
the University of San Francisco Koret Health & Recreation Center.


The USF Boxing team, through head coach Angelo Merino (originally from Cebu) has arranged sparring sessions, clinics and a try-out for
Fil-AMs in the four days that they will host the nationals.

Candy Lopez, a former US Olympic coach and Dr. Ronald Mitchell, a chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine will conduct seminars
for the team.

Therafter, the 7 male and 4 female boxers will attend more clinics and sparring at the Undisputed Gym in nearby San Carlos City courtesy of
world super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. Donaire has offered the use of the gym and the services of his training team for free as
his contribution to the ABAP campaign for the Asian Games. He is also arranging health supplements for the boxers which they can use until
the Asiad.

A program is also being drawn up by Mike Martino, executive director of USA Boxing (ABAP's US counterpart) for sparring with US boxers and
more clinics with American coaches and training experts. Mr. Martino, aside from being USA Boxing executive director, also heads the boxing
program of the University of Nevada in Reno.

ABAP is still confirming the schedule of Rodrigo Mosquera, the noted amateur boxing coach of the Eddie Heredia Gym in LA where Oscar de la
Hoya trained as an amateur.

The women boxers will head straight for Bridgetown, Barbados after the US stint for the Women's World championships slated Sept 6 to 19.

Joining the US trip bankrolled by PLDT are ABAP executive director Ed Picson, Head coach Pat Gaspi, Elite and Women's coach Roel Velasco,
Senior coaches Nolito Velasco and Ronald Chavez and boxers Charly Suarez, Annie Albania, Joegin Ladon, Delfin Boholst, Victorio Saludar,
Gerson Nietes, Rey Saludar, Recky Dulay, Josie Gabuco, Alice Kate Aparri and Nesthy petecio. Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) Women's
Commission member Karina Picson will accompany the women boxers.

The delegation left via Philippine Airlines on August 19. ABAP president Ricky Vargas and Secretary-General Patrick Gregorio are
scheduled to follow later.

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