anything under the sun

It’s just a matter of time before Manny Pacquiao signs the contract for his June 28 fight with David Diaz at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

According to Franklin Gacal, legal counsel of the Filipino boxing superstar, his negotiations with Top Rank president Bob Arum in the US worked out so well.

Gacal left for the US last week and has had several meetings with Arum, who will promote the coming fight with the Manny Pacquiao Promotions.

“At my level the negotiations ended well,” Gacal told The STAR via e-mail.

“And it’s now subject to the final approval of, and signing of the contract by Manny upon my return on May 2,” said Gacal who refused to mention any figure stipulated in the contract.

Arum, however, has said that Pacquiao stands to earn as much as what he got for his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez last month in Las Vegas.

For that fight, Pacquiao reportedly received a guaranteed purse of $5.5 million and took close to $2 million on pay-per-view shares and sales of merchandise.

Gacal said Pacquiao liked what he heard over the telephone.

“As per my telephone conversation with Pacman he is happy with the deal I have agreed in principle with Top Rank which has scheduled a series of city tours to be done by both fighters to promote the bout,” Gacal said.

Arum has scheduled a press conference on May 13 to be attended by Pacquiao and Diaz in Los Angeles.

Gacal added that Top Rank and MP Promotions have agreed that two Filipino boxers will be in the undercard. But he did not mention any names.

Pacquiao is in Gen. Santos City, catching up on his studies and trying to keep in shape by running in the morning and playing basketball in the afternoon.

He said he intends to fly to LA on May 10 but before that might spend a couple of days at a local gym in Gen. Santos City.