After his successful triple shindig, Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao is now about to face another big mess.
Fightnews yesterday gathered that Team Pacquiao is seriously considering the possibility of voiding both promotional deals that the boxer signed with Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank.
In an interview with American trainer Freddie Roach at his hotel in General Santos City, he revealed that both contracts may actually be illegal after all.
According to Roach, Pacquiao signed both contracts without informing Shelly Finkel who also has the authority to represent the Filipino fighter being manager on record.
“Shelly is in a position to get Manny out of both contracts since Manny signed both contracts without Shelly’s commission,” said Roach.
Both Roach and Finkel arrived in General Santos City Saturday morning not just to attend the triple bash of Pacquiao but to also straighten out things that may pester the boxer’s career for most part of next year.
Saturday night, Roach and Finkel met with Pacquiao at an undisclosed restaurant in hopes of getting the sentiments of the boxer on the topic of the twin legal punch-up.
The meeting however lasted for not more than 15 minutes as Pacquiao wished to spend his time and energy for his then upcoming birthday, baptismal of his only daughter Mary Divine Grace and the blessing of his multi-million mansion.
But Roach was quick to add that the move may actually prevent burning bridges among GBP, Top Rank and Pacquiao’s management team.
“We cannot commit with both contracts but maybe we can deal with them as individuals. With that Manny can always take the highest bidder and the competition will be real good,” added Roach.
Another ruse occurring within the Pacquiao camp are the factions involving those who have their own partiality between GBP owned by boxing superstar Oscar Dela Hoya and and Top Rank guru Bob Arum.
According to a reliable source, most of the members of Pacquiao’s camp are pushing the boxer to side with Dela Hoya while Filipino promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud and American agent Michael Koncz are in favor of Arum’s deal.
This weekend however, Salud has reportedly jumped ship and is now supportive of Pacquiao ending up with De La Hoya, leaving Koncz alone in his quest to bring the boxer to Arum.
The tide may eventually change as Roach is now in favor rendering both deals null and void that could pave the way for a more ideal promotional pact that will be on a per-fight basis.
* * * Note : This writer would like to thank the father and son tandem of Renato and JP Lirio for their unwavering support of our boxing radio program this year. In one of his travel agency trips in Mexico City in early 2003, JP, on board a bus with Mexican travel agency agents, bravely disagreed the claim of one Mexican that no fighter can beat Marco Antonio Barrera in his division. JP, in the same bus, proudly announced that his countryman Manny Pacquiao, whom he then introduced as “The Pacman,” has what it takes to beat the hell out of Barrera. True enough, Pacman gave Barrera 11 rounds of angst November of the same year.
