source: mb.com.phLOS ANGELES — Another trilogy, another megabuck coming for Manny Pacquiao.
This came after Juan Manuel Marquez formally signed the contract to fight Pacquiao for the third time on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum announced on Wednesday when he paid a visit to the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Marquez signed the contract at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the presence of Arum’s stepson and Top Rank president Todd DuBoef and Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran, said Arum.
“Marquez just signed the contract an hour ago,” an obviously pleased Arum told the Bulletin as he was preparing to hold court with the media for the open workout of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
“Manny (Pacquiao) wants this fight (with Marquez),” said Arum.
Pacquiao hasn’t signed the contract since his adviser, Mike Koncz, was scheduled to meet with Arum to discuss the business end of the Filipino fighter.
“But from a fight standpoint, this fight is done,” said the 79-year-old Arum, who is Top Rank’s CEO and Chairman.
Koncz is expected to brief Pacquiao about the intricate details of the Marquez fight when he returns to the Philippines early next week.
Marquez will be the second fighter he will fight three times – the first was Erik Morales.
Arum said there’ll be a catchweight of 144 lbs and Marquez is getting $5 million plus a share in the pay-per-view and $10 million in the event a fourth fight is made in May 2012.
Arum doesn’t see any problems that will prevent Pacquiao from putting his signature above the dotted line that he has already calendared a five-city tour that will see the two rivals hosting news conferences and publicity shoots in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Antonio (Texas), New York and Mexico City.
Arum said the promotional tour will take place sometime in August after his month-long vacation in Europe starting in the second week of July.
One of the most thrilled to learn about Marquez’s signing was Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, who looks forward to “an exciting fight.”
Unlike Shane Mosley, who was scared to death when he faced Pacquiao last May 7, Roach said “Marquez will come to fight.”
“They’re saying Marquez has Pacquiao’s number and maybe he has his number so this is a great fight,” added Roach.
Pacquiao and Marquez share a storied history, having fought to a draw in 2004 and battled to a close decision that went Pacquiao’s way in 2008.
While Pacquiao will no longer engage in a tuneup fight, such is not the case with Marquez, who is scheduled to square off with one-time Pacquiao knockout victim David Diaz on July 2 in Mexico City.
Marquez, who will be 38 years old by the time he collides with Pacquiao, told the Mexican media that he will prove in this third fight that.
source: mb.com.ph
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