Mix-up over, Pacquiao sticks to Solar Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Now Manny Pacquiao can get back to training after he finally came to terms with Solar Entertainment Corp. on the issue of who has the right of airing his May 2 (May 3 in Manila) bout against Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao, in a GMA "Flash Report," ended his four-day stand-off against Solar in Los Angeles on Friday (Saturday in Manila) saying that he would honor his contract with the sports network. Solar Sports holds the exclusive rights of airing Pacquiao’s fights in Manila and buys block time from GMA Network. Pacquiao, on Tuesday, announced that he was rescinding the last two years of his contract with Solar Sports and was giving ABS-CBN the rights to air his match against Hatton. Pacquiao’s decision to change media partners prompted Solar Sports president and chief executive officer Wilson Tieng and chief operating officer Peter Chanliong to fly to Los Angeles to meet with Pacquiao. After the meeting, Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, read a statement in which the Filipino boxing icon apologized to the public for the confusion brought out by the misunderstanding between him and Solar. In a statement read by his lawyer, Pacquiao said: "Ang inyo pong lingkod, si Manny Pacquiao, ay nais iparating sa lahat na matapos ang masusing pag-aaral at pagtimbang-timbang namin ng Solar Entertainment Corporation napatunayan na ang kontrata tungkol sa TV rights ng aking mga laban ay valid and binding at hindi nilabag nino man. "Dahil po dito ay taos puso akong humihingi ng paumanhin kung kayo man ay naguluhan kung saan ipapalabas ang aking darating na laban kay Ricky Hatton. Ito po ay resulta lang ng hindi pagkaka-intindihan sa pagitan ng Solar Entertainment Corporation at MP Promotions. Sana ay maunawaan ng lahat." [Yours truly, Manny Pacquiao, wants everyone to know that after our close study and consideration with Solar Entertainment Corporation we have proved that the contract over TV rights of my fight is valid and binding, and nobody violated anything. In light of this, I'm asking with all my heart for forgiveness from anyone who might have been confused as to which network would air my coming fight with Ricky Hatton. This was merely the result of a misunderstanding between Solar Entertainment Corporation at MP Promotions. May everyone undertstand.] Pacquiao then asked for his fans support and prayer as he set out to intensify his training for his May 2 fight against Hatton. "Simula sa araw na ito ay nais kong mag-concentrate nang husto na lang sa aking training para sa aking darating na laban ngayong Mayo 2 [From this day on I wish to fully concentrate on my training for the May 2 bout]," he said. Gacal added that GMA would remain as Solar’s media partner in the Pacquiao-Hatton fight. "Yan po ang mangyayari po. Ang laban po ay nanatili sa Solar Sports at ipapalabas sa GMA 7 [That's how it's going to be. The bout would remain with Solar Sports and GMA 7 would air it]," he said. - GMANews.TV