Top Rank to handle US broadcast of Pacquiao vs Matthysse

MANILA, Philippines – Despite Manny Pacquiao recently severing ties with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., the promotional company is not totally out of the picture with regards to the Filipino’s fight against Lucas Matthysse in July.

Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz said Top Rank will still be involved in the July 14 (July 15 Manila time) bout in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — not as a promoter, but as a broadcast partner.

“No problem with Top Rank as they will handle the broadcast of the fight in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico and this agreement has already been reached and signed,” Koncz told Philstar.com on Tuesday via a text message.

Pacquiao’s MP Promotions will co-promote the fight with Oscar Dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Matthysse.

Top Rank’s role, meanwhile, would be to take charge of the television distribution in the US, which would likely involve sports broadcaster ESPN — the same outfit that aired Pacquiao’s fight with Jeff Horn live from Brisbane, Australia last year.

Doubts and uncertainty plagued the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight mainly due to Pacquiao’s affiliation with Arum, who claimed Top Rank still had the Filipino icon under contract. But Pacquiao’s camp denied this, saying their deal with Arum’s company ended after the Horn fight.

Koncz declined to elaborate on Pacquiao’s promotional status with Top Rank, other than the company’s role in the Matthysse fight’s broadcast plan.

Nevertheless, Koncz said Pacquiao, Golden Boy and Top Rank are now on the same page.

“The fight was finalized tonight (Tuesday morning in Manila) — all contracts signed for July 14,” said Koncz, who expressed relief now that the tedious negotiations are over.

“It was a long three weeks dealing with and getting things done with Golden Boy and Top Rank,” he added.