Will Manny Pacquiao make the move to Jordan Brand? || Credit: Getty Images
A few weeks ago BoxingScene.com noted that welterweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and his team were in talks with Nike to make a transition to Nike’s Jordan Brand. While an official announcement still hasn’t been made, the internal brand representation change would make sense for the boxer whose fans in the Philippines already compare him to the legendary basketball star Michael Jordan.
Anthony Gordon, President and Co-Founder of Pacquiao’s legal counsel Creative Talent & Advisory Group, LLC, has been responsible for spearheading all of the closed discussions with Nike on behalf of Pacquiao. He noted that:
“… as I explained to one of the key decision makers who deals with global marketing and branding at Nike, it became clear to Manny several months ago that there was a cultural disconnect between his enormous Asian fan base who literally follow Manny’s every move on the one hand, and the generic cache Nike brand that is one of the most well recognized logos in the world. For Manny, the fact that the hundreds of fans who came to express their support for him after the Mosley fight were wearing Manny Pacquiao T-shirts and Jordan sneakers was more impactful than any focus group could have been. Finally, the infatuation of sports fans in the Philippines and surrounding areas in Asia with basketball finally hit a marketing tipping point when the local media began branding Pacquiao as the so-called Michael Jordan of boxing …”
The Jordan Brand would not be a new addition to the boxing world. Roy Jones has endorsed the brand and Andre Ward is currently part of the Jordan Brand family. And when the iconic Jumpman logo is the center-ring logo for a boxing match in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, you’re definitely involved in the sport.
Jordan Brand also expands into other sports not generally thought to be related, like motor sports — NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin is a Jordan Brand endorser, and Jordan has his own SuperBike team. Again, representation in the sport of boxing is not far fetched at all.
Basketball is also a part of Pacquiao’s life already. Despite being 5-foot-6, the sport is part of his training routine (great cardio), and he owns his own basketball team in the Philippines. The PacMan Gensan team of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association is based out of his hometown in General Santos City. They won a championship in 2005 and were runners-up in 2006.
A move to Jordan Brand would likely mean a few more dollars for Pacquiao as well, building on the $6 million he made out of the ring to put him at No. 2 on the FORBES list of highest-paid athletes.
The PacMan probably has another year or two left in his career. It would be a wise decision to move from the Swoosh to the Jumpman.
4. "Roy Jones Jr was with Jordan, of course "boxing isn't far off"" In response to Reply # 0
Jordan has made boxing shoes for a while. Even early on he had a vague "Trainer" that was sort of for sparring, wrestling or lifting (if anyone remembers them from 1998, you know what I mean ... so no one knows what I mean).
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
6. "i remember those. and this rumour is about 3 years old now" In response to Reply # 4
but yeah those trainers were part of the first JB line that featured jordan shoes other than the signutare model. must be the first ugly model, too lol.
''i went from bashful to asshole to international''- CdoubleO
12. "way to strike while the iron's hot, jorn" In response to Reply # 0
------------------------- “The other dude after me didn’t help my case. It was just like…crazy nigga factory going on.” Dre makes no apologies for his own eccentricities. “I was young, and searching, trying to find myself,” he says. “Never did.”-- Andre B
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