Conspiracy leaves Manny out in cold

LONDON — Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez are avoiding Manny Pacquiao like the plague. That’s what New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad insists, wrote Boxing News editor Claude Abrams in the London-based weekly trade paper’s Sept. 3 issue.

"Muhammad claims the Mexican big guns don’t want to fight his man," noted Abrams. "It looked at first as if Barrera would be boxing Pacquiao in a rematch until Barrera reportedly said he needed more time to face his Filipino conqueror."

The conspiracy theory was confirmed by Pacquiao confidant Moy Lainez who told The Star in a phone interview that promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank hatched a plot to abort the Barrera rematch and foist Morales into the picture.

Lainez said Muhammad was close to finalizing a Pacquiao-Barrera rematch in November until Arum proposed a fight against Morales, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) superfeatherweight champion, instead.

Since Morales’ twin titles would be at stake, Muhammad abandoned Barrera and started negotiations with Arum. But Arum had something else in mind. All along, his idea was to pit Morales against Barrera in a rubber match. He baited Muhammad out of talks with Richard Shaefer of the Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Barrera, then dropped Pacquiao like a hot potato.

Abrams said Morales and Barrera expect to earn at least $3 Million each in their pay-per-view bout on the HBO (Home Box Office) cable TV network. Arum initially offered a 60-40 split of the total purse in favor of Morales, said Dan Rafael of USA Today, but later agreed to 57-43. Morales beat Barrera on a disputed decision in February 2000. Two years later, Barrera reversed the verdict under similarly controversial circumstances.

Lainez said Arum’s devious ploy was meant to guarantee the Mexicans a big payday at Pacquiao’s expense. "Ayaw nilang pagbigyan ang Pilipino," rued Lainez.

Abrams said for sure, Morales will stake his WBC belt against Barrera but the IBF title may not be on the line. That’s because Australia’s Robbie Peden was supposed to be next in the queue for a shot at the IBF crown but stepped aside for Carlos Hernandez to face Morales in a unification championship fight. Peden may not agree to step aside once more and if that’s the case, the IBF will not sanction a Morales defense against Barrera.

If the IBF strips Morales of recognition, it could tap Pacquiao and Peden to fight for the vacant throne.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao left Manila for Los Angeles last Wednesday to start training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym. His traveling party was made up of brother Bobby, business manager Rod Nazario and his wife, trainer Buboy Fernandez and bantamweight prospect Z Gorres.

Before departing, Nazario said HBO has lined up three opponents for Pacquiao on Nov. 6 at either the Staples Center in Los Angeles or Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. He declined to identify the opponents but it was speculated two of them were World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight titlist Scott Harrison and WBC superbantamweight champion Oscar Larios.

Lainez said Muhammad has assured Nazario that HBO will stage a fight for Pacquiao in the US before the year ends.

Because of the delay in the HBO negotiations, Lainez said Nazario explored the option of promoting a Pacquiao fight in Manila but encountered difficulty due to the government’s austerity program.

Nazario met with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. public affairs director Dodie King separately and was given the same message. "Saka na muna raw dahil sa austerity program ng gobyerno," said Lainez.

Nazario’s plan was for WBC featherweight titleholder In Jin Chi to defend his crown against Pacquiao at the Araneta Coliseum but the Korean’s manager Ku Sung Lee asked for a $1 Million purse.

"You can’t blame Ku Sung Lee," said Lainez. "May easy fight offer si In Jin Chi sa Japan for much less but siguradong panalo siya. Kay

Pacquiao, malamang matalo siya kanya at least mayroon siyang $1 Million na konswelo." Another option was to lure Harrison to stake his WBO crown in Manila.

Harrison’s manager Frank Maloney has reportedly expressed interest in a Pacquiao fight for the right purse. Harrison is scheduled to fight on Oct. 29 but his opponent is still unnamed.

Lainez said Nazario prefers Harrison as Pacquiao’s next opponent because at least a world title will be up for grabs. Nazario and his wife are expected to return home on Oct. 16. Nazario will leave again for the US if Pacquiao is confirmed to fight on Nov. 6.