While GBP responded diplomatically, Top Rank was blunt.

"He (Sulaiman) is not getting any sanction fees," said Top Rank head Bob Arum. "That’s nonsense."

Sulaiman had told the Mexican media that De La Hoya should have picked on a legitimate welterweight (147 lbs) instead of Pacquiao, who started out as a light-flyweight (108 lbs) but is now fighting as a lightweight (136 lbs).

There will be no title at stake in the scheduled 12-round welterweight tiff at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, sparing the promoters – and even the fighters themselves – from paying hefty sanction fees not only to the Mexico-based governing body but to the other alphabet organizations as well.

While Top Rank reacted strongly to Sulaiman’s description of the event as a fight between a pachyderm and a hobbit horse, GBP Chief Executive Officer and De La Hoya right-hand man Richard Schaefer practiced the language of diplomacy.

"Jose Sulaiman is entitled to his opinion just like everyone else," Schaefer told the Bulletin. "We have a nice relationship with the WBC and we have many of our fighters ranked high in the WBC. We always work with them and the other sanctioning organizations and both Manny and Oscar have paid substantial sanctioning fees to the WBC over the years so I think it is just one man’s opinion."

"I am sure both fighters will continue to fight for the green belt when and if opportunity arrives and paid the relevant sanctioning fees. Since both fighters are either WBC champion (in Manny’s case) or No. 1 ranked (in Oscar’s case in the super-welterweight division), I am sure that both Oscar and Manny would be pleased to invite Don Jose to be at ringside for this historic showdown between the pound for pound best fighter in the world (Manny) and pound for pound the most popular fighter in the world (Oscar)."

"Don Jose told me once that styles make fights and in the opinion of most fight experts, Dec. 6th will be a night to remember between two warriors who come to fight. Neither one these two great athletes know how to go backward. They come to fight and million of fight fans from around the world, which will witness this showdown will be in for a treat. The odds are very close, the experts are divided on who will win this fight and one of the foremost fight experts of our generation, the legendary Larry Merchant, calls it a dream matchup," Schaefer added.

"As I said in the beginning, I respect Don Jose as a man with an opinion to which he is entitled to. Dec. 6th is not about negativity, it is about two fighters which will give it their best, for one of them the dream of victory will become reality," said Schaefer.

"Manny will carry with him the hopes of millions of Filipinos and Oscar the hopes of millions of Hispanics and Americans which will cheer him on to win against the pound for pound best fighter in the world. Can youth and speed overcome experience and power? It will be a great night for sports fans from around the world. It is without doubt the Super Bowl of boxing," concluded Shaefer.