MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao fighting on home soil for the price of P3 billion and before he finally retires is not a far-fetched idea.
Pacquiao’s ring adviser, Mike Koncz, yesterday told The STAR it may or may not happen, including the possibility of Pacquiao facing Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez for a fifth time.
“Anything is possible under the right conditions,” said Koncz amid reports that Pacquiao had asked the Department of Tourism to fund what should be his farewell fight before his own countrymen.
Pacquiao is at the tail-end of a great career, and his American promoter, Bob Arum, is looking at a farewell tour this year, starting off with a clash with Australian Jeff Horn in April, most likely in any of the key cities Down Under.
Then Arum is also looking at stops in Russia by July, in the United Kingdom by September and then in the United States by December.
But Pacquiao has recently broached the idea of fighting in the Philippines, which he has promised to do for his countrymen.
Many times, Pacquiao said he wants to do another fight in the Philippines before he finally retires.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo said Pacquiao had mentioned to her the boxer’s intention to fight one more time in the Philippines if the Department of Tourism can raise the fund of P3 billion.
Teo said it’s easier said than done considering that the 2017 Miss Universe, which the country is hosting, only took $14 million to host, and there’s a big difference from the amount Pacquiao is asking (roughly $60 million)
The tourism chief said it can only happen if Pacquiao will be ranged against boxing superstars like Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Marquez.
There are too many factors to consider for such a fight to take place, among those is the availability of Mayweather and Marquez, who are both retired.
Mayweather said he’s happy as a retired boxer while Marquez hasn’t fought in nearly two years, plus the fact that the Mexican is already 43 and turning 44 in August.
Koncz did not talk much about Pacquiao’s idea of fighting in the Philippines.
“Right now I am focused on getting things resolved and finalized for April,” he told The STAR.
There’s no venue yet for the Horn fight, and unless Australia can raise the $10 million needed to stage it, then offers from the Middle East or the United States are still in play.