Solving the Pacquiao-Cotto mess (page 2)

 . . . continued from Page 1

Or, how about this one. "I represented you as a seller, but you received $50,000 less for your house because I also represented the buyer. And by the way, according to our seller's contract, you are forced to have me as your agent for a few more years because that was one of the conditions to have me represent you."

Multiple advisors equal blame game. Been there before.  Not a good situation.  It saps morale and teamwork.

3. Miguel Cotto has gained the upper hand. Negotiations mean understanding what the other party wants. If Cotto walks away, he can get a payday by having a rematch with Antonio Margarito or with Shane Mosley. It's a smaller payday to be sure. But what the other side wants is much more valuable, and sooner or later it may cease to be a money issue for Team Pacquiao.  A 7th title in a 7th weight division is something that has never been accomplished in the entire history of the sport. Due to the lack of coordination and multiple, multiple individuals who make statements on behalf of Manny, Cotto has gained the upper hand. You have one motivated tank going against 10 blind-folded infantry units flying around to different countries, the Philippines, Canada, the U.S. (Las Vegas, Los Angeles, etc.), and let's hold training in either the Bahamas, Mexico, or Vancouver.

Caveat for a Congressman Manny Pacquiao

Navigating through negotiations in the boxing world is an easier task for the Pacman.  It is after all the fight itself, and its outcome, that ultimately matters.  Thus, he can agree - or walk away from - any fight due to terms.  That's normal and part of the process.

In elected office, however, there is no walking away from the media when controversy arrives.  Journalists swarm towards hot topics like flies on honey.  Future lack of coordination by political and business advisors of an elected, representative Pacquiao should have more serious consequences.

"Sir Manny, I know you assigned me to distribute the $100,000 in funds for a provincial program, but I have no idea where the funds went."  Another unacceptable scenario is having five separate advisors make claims or statements to the press, to the public, or to other public officials without having explicit authority from a congressman Pacquiao, especially on sensitive issues.

Prospective Solutions

1. Buy off Cotto.  The Puerto Rican is understandably sore from having to stay on with Top Rank as a precondition for the Pacquiao fight, taking a lesser percentage of the purse, having to fight at a catchweight, and being pressured to have his WBO belt on the line.  Cotto may be making this stance in order to solicit a higher share of the split, so give it to him.  He's facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit from his uncle.  Maybe 55-45% split in favor of Manny.
2. Do nothing for now.  Alright, so Cotto has gained the upper hand, temporarily.  But Manny is still the superstar here.  Stall for a month.  Let the emotions and egos die down.  Maybe that will get Cotto to return to his senses - and that this could be a $6 - $8 million paycheck for him.  This happens in relationships all the time right.  A boyfriend threatens to break up with his girlfriend.  So what does the girlfriend do, she feels terrible, so an opportunistic party boy sweeps her off her feet.  The now ex-boyfriend regrets his decision.  Does Cotto want to miss out on a big, juicy paycheck?  Or would he rather fight a Margarito or Mosley for $1.5 million, and still not be considered as pound for pound king even if he wins?  And that's a big if.
3. Manny makes a separate concession.  If I was advising Cotto here, my client has probably made too many concessions to the point of being highly disrespected.  Many fight fans out there view the Puerto Rican as an undefeated boxer due to Margarito's dubious gloves.  The 55-45% split is one possibility.  Cotto weighed in at 146 lb. against Clottey and the WBO championship was at stake there.  So why make Manny go to 147 lb.?  The fight could be at 146.  Or have the fight in New York.  If the fight is in New York, which has a large Puerto Rican contingent, Cotto gets most of the gate receipts while Manny gets most of the pay-per-view (PPV) share.  Or have Manny use 10 ounce gloves.  Or Cotto's camp can select two of their preferred judges for the fight.  And so on.
4. Pacquiao fights Shane Mosley or Andre Berto.  Cotto does not have a monopoly on the welterweight belts.  For Pacquiao to make history, and win that 7th belt, Shane Mosley has the WBA welterweight belt.  To be sure, Mosley is another very tough fight.  The California-based fighter would be more than willing to accept the terms of 145 lbs. and smaller share of the purse.  Similarly, Andre Berto is the WBC champ.  Berto would also be willing to make similar concessions in order to get a $3 - $4 million paycheck.
5. Pacquiao fights at 147 lb.  Cotto has said that he is firm on his stance.  This may mean that Manny, in order to secure a larger share of the purse and to earn the WBO belt, fights the Puerto Rican at 147 lb.  Even at a catchweight of 145 lb., Cotto represents a big danger for Pacquiao.  To be sure, Manny will be much faster than Cotto, but the latter - my friends - has taken monster punches from much, much larger opponents.  Alright, both warriors have the same height and reach. 

But remember when you were at school.  There was a guy in your class that you were afraid to fight, because he seemed like the same height, but you knew he was actually bigger and thicker than you?  So, as you imagined, you could land your punches.  But you were also confident that he could land his punches on you, except this time, these were really hard and painful punches that landed on you.  So you chose not to fight him. 

Well, Cotto is that guy.  Manny will likely weigh in at 141 - 142 lbs the day before the fight, but Cotto will blow up to middleweight on Saturday night.  That is Marvin Hagler / Paul Williams weight level my friends.  (Actually, the Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Andre Bertos of the world should actually be fighting the bigger Paul Williams if they had the same bravado as Manny Pacquiao.  Instead, they are looking for bigger paychecks to fight the smaller guys.  But that's another article.)

Final Thoughts

Boxing needs a credible commission who watches out for fighters' best interests.  When your representative or promoter is also representing the other guy, problems like these are bound to happen again and again.

On a separate note:

Rest in peace President Corazon Aquino.  Your life was a tremendous example and an inspiration for tens of millions around the world.  And to accomplish what you did with the grace, humility, compassion, and intelligence serve as a ten-fold beacon in the dark night of mankind's less than admirable side.

The late-president gave a speech before the U.S. congress in 1987, and was interrupted by several standing ovations.  And most eloquently conveyed - and captured - her intentions for elevating the conditions of her country by quoting the great Abraham Lincoln:

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

True leaders such as President Corazon Aquino reminds us that our legacy is not found in what we give people.  Our legacy lies in what we leave in people.

The late-senator Ninoy Aquino and Cory could have chosen a life of wealth, great comfort, longevity, and prestige by living in the United States.  Ninoy, at the time, was teaching at Harvard University.  Instead, they chose to return back to the danger, threats, struggle, and possibility of further torture in which Ninoy was previously subjected to for years.  He chose to do the right thing - no matter what, even at the cost of his life.  For the upliftment and hope of their people.

• Welterweight Profile:  Miguel Angel Cotto
  
• Early Fight Analysis:  Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao
  
• Pacquiao-Cotto Negotiations Meant to Deal with Mayweather's Demands
  

Copyright 2009.  Marv Dumon.  May not be republished without author's written consent.