Pacman also a poker champ

By Al S. Mendoza

NOT only in the roped ring but, hey, also off it.

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has also become an astute businessman.

He proved that only very recently, when he was able to haggle for more in the purse pie.

From the 50-50 split of the $54-million pot in the Pacquiao-Hatton fight, Pacman was able to squeeze in a 52-48 deal.

Take it or leave it.

“If Hatton wouldn’t agree to my condition, then there’s no fight,” said Pacquiao of his 52-48deal.

Hatton’s camp backed down. The fight is now officially scheduled on May 2 in Las Vegas (May 3 in Manila).

At first, Pacquiao had demanded a 60-40 split.

When Hatton, England’s 140-lb world champion with a menacing 46-1 (win-loss) record, protested, Pacman was adamant.

“I will only fight Hatton on a 60-40 split in my favor,” said Pacman.

When even Bob Arum, Pacman’s American promoter since 2005, said it was impossible for Pacquiao to grab a 60-40 deal, Pacquiao didn’t budge.

For a while there, everybody thought there wouldn’t be a Pacquiao-Hatton fight anymore.

“I’d rather take a long rest than not win my bid of 60-40,” said Pacman.

Of course, that was a poker move.

Arum burned the lines communicating with Pacquiao.

Finally, when Arum promised Pacquiao another $1 million bonus aside from the new offer of 52-48 split in favor of the National Fist, Pacman finally relented.

It effectively confirmed Pacquiao’s new status as the businessman of the year on top of his being the pound-for-pound king of the world.

Indeed, if you are on top of the world, everybody would bow down to you.

Didn’t the mountain go to Mohammad?

Pacquiao is now a peak too high to scale. Like Mohammad, the mountain now comes down to Pacman.

With Pacquiao’s victory off the ring, a new dimension in the legendary fabric of Pacman has just been etched on granite: A shrewd businessman he has become.

The two percent addition to his purse in his bout with Hatton would appear small by world-dollar standards, but peso-wise, that would amount to millions.

He couldn’t be expressly accused of greed as he abandoned his 60-40 stand after relenting to a 52-48 split from 50-50.

Had he done otherwise – reject the 52-48 deal – then we could pelt him with eggs and tomatoes to our hearts content. We could also hurl stones at his GenSan mansion and next declare him from Mr. Nice to Mr. Piranha, if not Senor Avarice.

So, how do we call him now?

Mr. Shrewd – or Poker Champ if you will.

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