PRESS RELEASE: Pacquiao Fires Muhammad, Declares Himself Free Agent
mannypacquiao.ph
October 7, 2004

GENERAL SANTOS-Citing numerous breaches in his existing contract with US-based promoter Murad Muhammad, featherweight king Manny Pacquiao declared himself a free agent Thursday in a bid to redirect his young but stagnating career to greater heights.

"I am no longer happy at how things are shaping up with my career. I am young, I am healthy and I am at the top of the featherweight division but I cannot even get a decent fight. Something is wrong somewhere," said Pacquiao.

"I am firing my promoter Murad Muhammad after our existing contract has been breached on several counts," said Pacquiao, who also said that he has already lost confidence in Muhammad, whose contract is supposed to expire on Feb. 2005.

Pacquiao, 25, acknowledged as the People's Champion by the prestigious Ring Magazine, fought only once this year, settling for a controversial draw with WBA/IBF title holder Juan Manuel Marquez.

"I have given them enough time to negotiate and find me a worthy opponent and they have failed not just once. I have been training for almost a month now but nothing concrete and substantial has come up that is why I am declaring myself a free agent from hereon," said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao went back to the Philippines unannounced Sunday in disgust and frustration over broken promises. He begged to discuss the numerous points which would have voided his contract with Muhammad.

"The only thing that I should be doing now is to concentrate and prepare for my next fight but instead, I have to attend to several other matters. I am worried that ring rust might catch up on me. All I want is to fight," said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao was supposed to lock horns with Marquez in a blockbuster rematch but the match was shelved for February next year. Instead, Marquez fought and won by a lackluster unanimous decision over Orlando Salido last month.

A rematch with dethroned People's champion Marco Antonio Barrera was also considered a "done deal" but Muhammad likewise failed to seal it for Pacquiao after talks with Golden Boy Promotions fizzled out due to terms disagreements.

Another huge battle between Pacquiao and super-featherweight champion Erik Morales loomed but in the end, it was Morales and Barrera inking a megabuck deal on Nov. 27.

"This decision was one of the hardest things that I have to make. I owe Mr. Muhammad many things in my career but I guess in this case, we have to move on with our lives," said Pacquiao.

"I hope he finally accepts his failures and that we part ways peacefully. He had more than his fair share in all my winnings and I know that my decision is just," said Pacquiao.

Thanks for the info Boss Shiva.

Good for him to fire Murad.. hes now a free agent, hope he finds somebody who will truly care for him.

I dont know if he did a right move. Do you guys agree on PACMAN's decission?

Yeah, i agree with PACMAN's decision. Look he has given Murad ample time to negotiate but he came out empty. I suspect that he was negotiating for bigger purse with bigger share for him too. The PAC-MAB fight exposed him to have a "sideline deals". He declared to Manny a purse of $350,000. only to find out that it was $700,000... and his reasoning? PACMAN agreed that amount, and the $700,000 deal is part of the business and that's the way business works. Meaning he'll have the rest as long as he pays PACMAN what they have agreed.

HELL YEAH I agree to pacs decision! its about time that he fire Muhamad.. to justify.. he failed the first time, ok second chance. second time he failed again.. this is your last chance.. the third time.. PAC SAID: YOUR *** IS FIRED

sino kaya sa tingin nyo ang pwedeng pumalit kay murad?

....good for manny... problem is, who would replace murad?! ...im thinking GoldenBoy.. what do ya think guys?

How about Don King?

Wasn't Lou DiBella interested in promoting Manny before. Murad beat him to the draw. Maybe this time, he can try luring the Pacman again.

i agree...good for manny.

from nick


Pre, baka mabasa ni ginoong garsiya ito - patulan ka!

I'd like to see him sign with Goossen if he doesn't manage himself

DONE!!!

Step 1: Fire Murad

I hope Manny has a good plan, coz as a free agent a lot of the Promoter Sharks will want to take a large share of his purse, this are my suggestion for his next step IMHO....

NEXT STEPS TO BE DONE....
Step 2: Choose a new US Promoter, but does PacMan really need a US Promoter why can't His existing Philippine Management team deal with his fight in the US, he is already a known fighter and has an HBO Contract (will his HBO Contract Expire with Murad???) and I know other network like ESPN are interested, so why get another middleman....

Step 3: Manny should consider fighting in the US instead of Manila to maintain his marketability in the US. (But I will settle for any fight anywhere to avoid ring rust).


Guys what do you think are the next steps the Manny has to take???

hope so.....