SENSING THAT Golden Boy is making inroads in the race to promote Manny Pacquiao’s coming bouts, sources close to the famed puncher revealed that Top Rank big boss Bob Arum has arrived in the country and is now in General Santos City for a meeting with the boxer.
It was learned that Arum’s contact, California-based Canadian lawyer Mike Koncz was the one who convinced Arum to fly to the Philippines in an effort to iron out the kinks concerning the promotional rights over Pacquiao. Koncz has not left Pacquiao’s side since the fighter arrived in the country from the US last month.
Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions was the first to sign Pacquiao to a seven-fight contract last September in Los Angeles, but Arum claimed during the post-fight press conference of the Filipino’s Nov. 18 victory over Erik Morales that he has inked Pacquiao to a four-year pact.
Pacquiao’s manager Shelly Finkel and trainer Freddie Roach were recently in the country to persuade Pacquiao to agree to be promoted by GBP and the two left without getting an assurance from the fighter that he would honor the contract.
