Proposed Fights for Pacquiao and Williams Snag Over Money
Written By: Armando Paz
It was thought that the major issue in preventing a Pacquiao-Margarito showdown was the fact that suspended fighter Margarito would have trouble obtaining a proper boxing license in the states. Of course, if they failed to get that license they would think about fighting abroad in places like Dubai or Mexico where there would be less tax implications. The real desire for Pacquiao and his team was to keep the fight either in Las Vegas or Texas. But it is now well reported through Michael Koncz and other sources that it is likely that Texas will give Margarito a boxing license for his November 13 fight with Pacquiao for the vacant WBC Junior Middleweight title.
The issue of money has now resurfaced in the negotiations. Pacquiao had told Arum he wanted a specific guarantee amount for the upcoming fight. Now several unofficial reports have circulated that Pacquiao wants at minimum the same amount that Mayweather received for his last fight with Shane Mosley. If this is the case, that means Pacquiao wants atleast $22.5 Million for this fight. Even with the fight in a stadium as Cowboy Stadium in Texas it would be quite difficult to pay Pacquiao that amount unless the fight has over 1 million Pay Per View buys. The last Pacquiao fight with Joshua Clottey did 700,000 purchases. Many will be shocked if the fight with Margarito gets that many buys, let alone 1 million.
It is reasonable to understand some of Pacquaio’s frustration. He has won fighter of the year three times and is viewed by many as currently the top pound for pound man in the sport, he also wants to be the top paid fighter in the sport. There must also be frustration in not getting the mega fight with Mayweather. In fact, Pacquiao in a local Phillipines newspaper called out Mayweather. There is some possible inter conflict with his Promoter Bob Arum. Arum consisently throws Pacquiao with fellow Top Rank fighters to keep more of the money in his pockets. Pacquaio even refused to fight fellow Top Rank fighter Yuri Foreman for the WBA Junior Middleweight title, as he thought he was “too big.” Margarito is the same height as Foreman and possibly not the ideal opponent with the noted “illegal handwraps” suspension. Pacquiao is now a politician and is possibly sensitive to the fact that he is getting into a ring with a known cheater.
Bob Arum pretty much told the press that he won’t put Pacquiao in the ring with guys like Timothy Bradley (26-0 11 KO’s), Paul Williams (39-1 27 KO’s), and Andre Berto (26-0 20 KO’s). The logic is that Arum won’t “spend his money building other people’s fighters.” Unfortunately, i think that logic is wrong, if Pacquiao was put in the ring with any of those fighters he would make much more in PPV, and possibly get Pacquiao close to that $22 Million he feels he deserves. Moreover, from a public relations standpoint it makes more sense to fight a young hungry fighter opposed to a fighter who has been suspended and looked non impressive in his last two bouts. We will see in the coming days how this Pacquiao and Arum standoff ends up after Texas decides on Margarito’s license.
Paul Williams is having some fiscal quarrel himself with a proposed Sergio Martinez rematch. Williams has reportedly asked for more than the 50-50 split offered in fighting the WBC Middleweight champion. This is mainly because Willaims feels as the victor of their first fight he should get more, and also because he feels that the only reason Martinez is the Middleweight champion is that Kelly Pavlik ducked him. Williams who is often dubbed “the most feared man in boxing”; had his fight with Pavlik postponed twice last year until he decided to move on from Pavlik.
Kelly Pavlik claimed he had a staph infection and needed time to recover. But the fact that he missed doctor appointments and fought almost immediately after postponing with Williams gave ammunition to the belief that he ducked Williams. Pavlik claimed he had no choice to fight or he would have been stripped of his title for inactivity. Pavlik would defend his title and than lose it to Martinez.
Both Williams and Martinez have a solid fan base, but both are far from Pay Per View attraction. There first fight which i thought was fight of the year for 2009; was aired on regular HBO. Williams has openly called out both Mayweather and Pacquiao; but those fights are unlikely going to happen. Although listed as 6 feet 1, Williams stands taller than Kelly Pavlik who is 6 feet 2, which means Williams is closer to 6 Feet 3. Williams has said “Mayweather won’t fight me due to size yet he fights guys like Marquez who are several weight divisions lower than him.” He also said about Pacquiao ” We both throw alot of punches so it will be exciting but I will blow him out of the water.”
Despite all of these complications, I do think Williams and Martinez will happen. Recently, Alfredo Angulo (19-1 16 KO’s) turned down $750,000 to fight Martinez. As a result, both fighters have trouble getting opponents and this likely means they are destined to meet in a rematch.
