That’s a lot of money.
In an interview on dzMM, Department of Tourism (DOT) chief Wanda Corazon Teo revealed that senator and world champion Manny Pacquiao had entertained the idea of holding his next fight in Manila. That’s why he supposedly sought the help of the DOT to raise PHP3 billion to stage and promote the event.
ABS-CBN News quoted Teo as saying, “Kinausap nga ako ni Manny Pacquiao. We talked and humingi siya ng PHP3 billion for the fight (Manny Pacquiao talked to me. We talked and he asked for PHP3 billion for the fight).”
The report noted: “The last time Pacquiao fought in the Philippines was when he beat Oscar Larios on points on July 2, 2006 at Araneta Coliseum.”
In any case, Teo said the DOT “isn’t inclined to grant the boxer’s wish unless he’s fighting someone as popular as he is.”
“Sabi ko, ‘pag si Floyd Mayweather Jr. siguro ang kalaban niya o si Juan Manuel] Marquez. I was telling him, ”Pag Mayweather o si Marquez, madali ‘yung i-sell, kaya namin ang PHP3 billion (I said maybe if he’s fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Juan Manuel Marquez. I told him, ‘If your opponent is Mayweather or Marquez, it’s easy to sell, we can help raise the PHP3 billion).”
The report explained: “For context, the Miss Universe pageant on January 30 has a budget of about US$14 million. PHP3 billion is roughly the equivalent US$60.4 million.”
Pacquiao is set to defend his WBO welterweight championship against relatively unknown Australian Jeff Horn this April 22. In initial reports, the venue for the fight has been cited as Australia.
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