SHELLY FINKEL vividly remembered the first time he and Manny Pacquiao met and the two discussed the fighter’s future plans.
“Manny told me he wanted to become the greatest fighter of his era,” Finkel told the Bulletin from New York yesterday.
Finkel did his part in making sure Pacquiao would realize his dream as evidenced by the high-profile fights that the Big Apple-based boxing manager arranged for the Filipino southpaw in a span of less than two years.
Finkel delivered Erik Morales at a time when Pacquiao had already lost to the Mexican and he did it in style by guaranteeing that Pacquiao earn much more than the amount he got in the first Morales fight in March, 2005.
It was also Finkel who was responsible for Pacquiao getting a hefty paycheck of $ 750,000 against Hector Velazquez in September, 2005 despite the fact that he was coming off a loss to Morales.
In the first Morales bout that had already been formalized even before he entered the scene, Pacquiao got paid $ 1.750 million, while Finkel got Pacquiao $ 2.25 million in the rematch and in the rubber match that Pacquiao won by third-round knockout, Finkel worked for Pacquiao to get $ 3 million.
Despite his efforts, Finkel seems to be in a difficult bind as to how he would be able to convince Pacquiao to renew his managerial contract. Reports from Team Pacquiao say that the fighter is no longer keen in having Finkel around anymore since he doesn’t need a manager at this point in his career.
Finkel, who took over from Murad Muhammad and Rod Nazario, said Pacquiao’s decision to decline an offer from Golden Boy Promotions to face Marco Antonio Barrera on March 17 in Las Vegas is a big mistake.
“To become a great fighter, you have to face great fighters. Everybody wants to see him fight Barrera again. It’s a travesty that the opportunity was lost,” said Finkel. “I hate to see Manny lose out on something like this.”
Pacquiao had actually mauled Barrera when the two met in Nov., 2003 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and the Mexican reasoned out that he was not prepared mentally on that night. Since losing to Pacquiao, Barrera has won a string of bouts, including one against Morales.
Speaking to fightnews.com, Finkel said: “It’s career-defining fights such as Barrera that will continue to earn him legendary status throughout the world and will help him be remembered in boxing history. And that’s all I wanted for Manny.”
