24.02.04 – By Keith Terceira: It is all systems go, at Camp Pacquiao as the sky rocketing featherweight seeks new uncharted frontiers. Stories of split-ups, new promoters, and upset trainers have been replaced with multi-million dollar deals and some fairly happy campers. Murad Muhammad seems to have found the formula for success and getting the goods for his fighters. In a released statement the Muhammad organization filled us in on some details.
After meeting with promoter Murad Muhammad and HBO executives Kery Davis and Xavier James, featherweight sensation Manny Pacquiao agreed to a multimillion dollar deal with Muhammad that will begin with a May 22 HBO date at a site yet to be determined, but possibly against Juan Manuel Marquez. HBO was very pleased to see a champion so eager to face the best challenges available and approved Marquez as the May 22 opponent. Should the Marquez fight be his next bout as it appears likely at this point, the plan is to fight Erik Morales next, also on HBO. It was the mentioning of Morales by Pacquiao that so impressed HBO.
Promoter Murad Muhammad will now start negotiations with Top Rank’s Bob Arum to make this tremendous bout a reality. Stated Murad Muhammad, “It is a pleasure to deal with a man like Manny Pacquiao, who’s not only honorable, but such a great fighter. He is a promoter’s dream. He and his manager Rod Nazario accepted the deal I presented to them in front of HBO. We sat down with Kery Davis and Xavier James and they were very impressed because the fighters that I put on the table for consideration, Manny Pacquiao said, ‘Bring them all.’ That was music to HBO’s ears, and they were very pleased with how open I was in negotiating with my fighter and his manager at their headquarters.”
While at the meeting HBO President Ross Greenburg stepped in to welcome Manny and was very impressed upon learning Manny’s lineup of opposition. Said Muhammad: “Pacquiao beats the king (Barrera) but he doesn’t stop there, he just wants to beat everybody else. He doesn’t want any easy fights. HBO in turn said, ‘This is our kind of fighter and we will do everything we can to support him.’ So now that we have put this deal behind us, our plans are to fight Marquez in May and then get the last man standing, Erik Morales.”
HBO Senior VP Kery Davis stated, “It is easy to deal with a promoter who brings a fighter that would fight almost anyone. It makes our job easier.”