Pacquiao still unhappy with Murad

By Scott Shaffer and Rey Danseco

29/03/2005

Pacquiao still unhappy with Murad

According to The Philippine Star, Manny Pacquiao is so upset with Murad Muhammad that he wants out of the promotional contract he signed with the New Jersey-based promoter.  The newspaper quoted Pacquiao as saying, "I will leave Murad because he earns more than I do. That’s not fair because I am the one who fights in the ring. I must earn more than him." Pacquiao reportedly earned $1.75 million for his fight-of-the-year loss to Erik Morales on March 19, 2005. But Pacquiao got no share of the pay-per-view revenues and also had to allow Morales to choose the brand of boxing gloves, which arguably cost him a chance at a knockout victory.  The Filippino legend trusts that his new manager, Shelly Finkel will be able to free the former featherweight champion from Muhammad. "My manager Shelly Finkel will easily fix it up, so don’t worry, I think that’s enough. [Muhammad] earned a lot from my fight."  However, it might not be so simple.  The same story speculates that Muhammad's contract with Pacquiao is "air tight" and that Pacquiao may have to consider buying Muhammad's rights out if he really doesn't want to work with him.