LAS VEGAS ? In the world of professional boxing, it isn?t rare to find devious backroom operators, backstabbers, doublecrossers, purveyors of intrigue, greedy sleazeballs preying on innocent fighters and rumormongers.
Too often, you hear about contracts being signed and rescinded, fighters being fooled by manipulators and managers being bushwhacked by outsiders whose agenda is to take over.
Covering the recent “Grand Finale” between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales was an unforgettable experience not only because it was a defining victory for the Filipino but also because I saw, with my own eyes, the savagery of intrigue that often taints the credibility of a spectacular win in the ring.
To show you what I mean, here are bits of intriguing gossip that surrounded the fight at the Thomas and Mack Center here Saturday night.
? Is it true that an American of foreign descent, an official of a world boxing governing body, was paid $50,000 as a fee by a US promotions company to deliver a hot Filipino prospect to join its ranks?
Is it ethical for an official to perform such a service and get paid for it?
? Is it true that an American promoter, once linked to Pacquiao, issued bouncing checks to several fighters in a show he recently staged?
? Is it true the state athletic commission that supervised the event has revoked the promoter?s license? The prejudiced fighters were reportedly the young kids in the undercard. Can you imagine how badly they must feel and how disillusioned they must be about their future in the sport?
? Is it true that an American boxing manager was prepared to go to court against a Filipino sportswriter in the event he showed up here to cover the Pacquiao-Morales bout?
The manager has accused the sportswriter of being biased and writing “agenda-laden” articles that are false, misleading and malicious. The writer never landed in the US. Is it true that if he did, he would have been served an order to appear in court as the accused in a libel case?
? Is it true that a supposedly “well-known” international matchmaker was driving a truck for a potato chip manufacturer about four years before he was invited by a high school friend to become an executive of a US boxing promotions company?
? Is it true that Oscar de la Hoya and Golden Boy partners Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Marco Antonio Barrera were supposed to attend the fight last Saturday but none showed up as the day before, Pacquiao renounced the contract he signed with the company?
? Is it true that Top Rank Promotions head Bob Arum provided an apartment for a boxing agent in Orange County, California, as a gesture of appreciation for delivering a fighter to his camp? According to court records, the agent filed for bankruptcy last May, listing assets of $1.03 Million and debts of $1.095 Million.
? Is it true that a boxing agent offered Pacquiao a brand-new Lamborghini sportscar as a gift to win his favor? The Filipino reportedly turned down the generous offer. Someone said the car has a market price of about $300,000. * * * On the debate of who?s the best pound-for-pound fighter today, trainer Freddie Roach said there?s no doubt in his mind it?s Pacquiao.
“I feel that Manny is more of a complete fighter because he can box and punch,” said Roach, adding that Floyd Mayweather and Winky Wright ? rated No. 1 and No. 2 ahead of Pacquiao in the honor roll ? are not as multi-faceted.
“Mayweather?s a great boxer but he?s not a finisher, especially at the welterweight division (where) he hasn?t knocked anyone out. Floyd?s a great boxer and a tough guy to beat for anybody in the world but I just think Manny?s a more complete fighter.”
Arum chimed in: “Floyd is a great fighter, no question about it. But nobody is going to buy his fights on pay-per-view or seats to see that kind of fight. It is not entertaining. It is great for the purist. It?s okay maybe as an HBO fight but it is not entertaining. And the last I looked, boxing was an entertainment business.”
