Cebu space cadet will pay Pacquiao, Cotto cool millon

Forget about paying any sanctioning fee.

Forget about using a symbolic shoelace or elastic band replacing a world title strap.

One newly formed boxing governing body, which claims to supersede all others, is willing to pay both Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto to fight for its title.

The new Alphabet Soup group is the IGBO, the Intergalactic Boxing Organization and its president is a Pinoy named Ekim Yelram.

“I think this whole title strap controversy is tiresome,” Yelram told me Wednesday from his home office close to the Cebu waterfront. “It is starting to stink like yesterday’s balut left to rot in the burning sun.

“We are the only out of this world organization,” Yelram said. “We don’t dish out world titles, we hand out other wordly titles.

“Obviously, as a startup, we need ink, we need publicity, we need recognition. I have backers, including former Filipino president Erap solidly behind me. No one is beside me or in front of me, just behind me.


“I am prepared to pay $1 million to promoter Bob Arum and he can whack up the money with Manny, with Cotto and whoever else he is paying under the table, over the table, around the table or even under the chairs. I don’t care.

“Another bonus for all concerned is we have only boxing rule. This is for simplification.

What’s the rule, you fool, is that what you ask me? There are no rules except whatever we agree upon. We make it up as we go along.”

I asked Yelram how the IBGO could replace the $1 million paid out to Manny, Miguel and Uncle Bob.

“Are you as dumb as you look?” Yelram said. “What do you think the ratings are for? All of our rankings are based solely on merit. You get what you pay for. Our rankings are truly pay per view.”

Our interview had to be truncated as Yelram had to rush off to his day job.

What, I asked with trepidation, would that be?

“I am a lifeguard at a place where we wash and wax jeepneys,” Yelram said. “No one has drowned at my place in years. Edwin Valero is here a lot. He’s got some fascination with jeepneys and the men who drive them,”

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m8d12-Cebu-space-cadet-will-pay-Pacquiao-Cotto-cool-millon