Rumors around the global boxing scene say that eight-time world champion and future Hall-of-Famer, Manny Pacquiao may return on the ring this September.
He’s also planning to hold it on our local shores – or at least he’s wishing it could be held here.
“What I’m trying to do is arrange the fight here in the Philippines so that our countrymen need not fly abroad to watch it,” Pacquiao relays ABS-CBN’s Anne Santos recently.
With the talks of a fifth bout with rival Juan Manuel Marquez still on hot pursuit, it is still highly unlikely that such a much anticipated event will take stage locally.
Pacquiao is a guaranteed pay-per-view star and the time difference between the United States and the Philippines will play a major role concerning the viewing sales of the proposed match and may end up as a very unattractive pay-per-view commodity.
They also see the logistics as a factor, since we really haven’t held a grand boxing match (except for the Thrilla in Manila) in quite some time now. And if ever a promotional outfit pulls it off, the tickets for the fight will surely be offered in such a soaring price.
The last time Pacquiao fought here at home was way back in 2006, when he punched his way to victory against Mexican Oscar Larios en route to a unanimous decision. And sales wise, it showed that it really didn’t fare well.
And even if we factor the ridiculous 39 percent tax that the US is imposing Manny to pay if ever he stages his next fight in the United States again, it would still generate a much, much bigger profit for him to gain rather than insisting to hold it here in the Philippines.
Top Rank’s chief Bob Arum also stated before that he’s eyeing to hold Manny’s next fight, which is hopefully Pacquiao-Marquez V, in either Dubai, Macau, or in Marquez’ home turf, Mexico.
