John Kim 
Manny Pacquiao will go down in history as one of Nike’s most celebrated professional athletes, forging a legacy of success and competition while bringing Nike to a sports-crazed Filipino nation. The global impact of Manny Pacquiao as the ‘Michael Jordan of boxing’ was unfathomable, but major plans were indeed in the works when Nike and Manny signed a major endorsement contract extension in the Summer of 2011. We can still count on Manny being the international phenomenon that he is, but it might not be with the Nike Swoosh in his corner; Manny Pacquiao and his legal counsel known as the Creative Talent & Advisory Group, LLC (‘CTAG’) are in talks with Nike of making the switch to Jordan Brand as the iconic logo to push his brand, deeming the ‘Michael Jordan of boxing’ title all the more accurate.
Manny and CTAG cite numerous reasons for this switch; for one, Manny is a huge basketball fan and own his own pro-basketball team in the Philippines, and many of his fans in Asia consider the Jumpman more of a recognizable and iconic logo than Nike’s Swoosh. Notwithstanding, this deal stands to benefit all parties included. This switch could potentially allow Manny and his brand to make stronger impressions on a global level while giving Jordan Brand its first athlete to possibly match Michael Jordan’s cultural impact. As for Nike, which can understandably seem like the odd man out, Jordan Brand is a subsidiary of Nike, so Jordan Brand’s success with Manny will also be Nike’s. Your thoughts on this switch – on Nike letting go one of its major endorsees and Jordan Brand gaining yet another marketable boxing superstar since Roy Jones Jr.? Let us know in the comments section below and be sure to stick with Sneaker News for more updates regarding this switch. via boxingscene
