Pacquiao guaranteed $25-m for Bradley bout

source | http://www.interaksyon.com

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s paychecks are growing as he closes in on retirement.

Pacquiao, the eight-division boxing champion, is guaranteed to earn $25 million (over P1 billion) for his fight against Timothy Bradley, said Top Rank’s Bob Arum in a conversation with News5.

This is $3 million higher than his $22 million guaranteed purse for fighting Juan Manuel Marquez for the fourth time last November.

The guaranteed purses reflect the amount Pacquiao will receive for the fight, and do not include earnings from pay-per-view sales and commercial endorsements.

The fighting pride of General Santos City is set to defend his WBO welterweight title for the fourth time against southern California’s “Desert Storm” on June 9 (June 10 in Manila) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Bradley will receive $5 million for fighting Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound king. This will be his biggest paycheck in his career.

Arum added that Pacquiao is expected to sign his contract when he flies the United States. Over the weekend, Bradley announced that he already signed the contract.

Pacquiao is set to leave for Los Angeles via a Philippine Airlines flight on Thursday.

Arum likewise confirmed that both fighters will hold press conferences in Las Vegas on February 19 (February 20 in Manila), Los Angeles on February 21 (February 22 in Manila), and New York on February 23 (February 24 in Manila).

“Pacman,” as the 33-year old boxing champion is fondly called, is expected to begin his high-altitude training in Baguio City in March.