SHELLY Finkel, the head of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao?s management team, said he can guarantee making the re-match with Marco Antonio Barrera and that the Filipino champ would make at least $5 million.
?If he [Pacquiao] wants me as his manager, I will guarantee to make the fight with Barrera and that he will make at least $5 million, or I don?t take a penny,? said Finkel in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Standard Today. Finkel emphasized that Top Rank?s Bob Arum ?is not Pacquiao?s promoter until the courts decide? and that he would ?only negotiate for Manny.?
Finkel?s contract with Pacquiao expires on Jan. 31, but Arum repeatedly claimed it ended last August after the former signed a waiver.
At the same time, Finkel said no matter what Pacquiao believes, if he wants the Barrera fight, ?he better make a decision or he?s going to lose it. Barrera is going to take another fight and that?s reality.?
He said Arum was telling Pacquiao it was not true, but Finkel insisted Arum was wrong.
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer had earlier referred to Finkel as a legend in the sport and that what he has done and accomplished for his fighters was ?short of amazing.?
?Finkel is a good man and has the best for Manny in mind,? said Schaefer.
At the same time, Schaefer said it was ?ultimately up to Manny to stand up and do the right thing.?
Schaefer said one can be a great fighter, but to be ?a great man and fighter inside and outside the ring like Oscar de la Hoya is, one has to have integrity, honesty and character that is what ultimately sets apart the leader from the bunch.?
Schaefer added: ?My hope would be that Manny will have a wake-up call and realize that the time has come to stand up to be a man.?
Schaefer underscored the fact that Golden Boy is there for Pacquiao and would ?take the very talented fighter and make him a global icon,? adding ?we have the fights, the structure and the experience to make a fighter a legend. It?s up to Manny.?
