MANNY Pacquiao’s new manager, Shelly Finkel, is not about to sulk in the corner and start finger-pointing, a day after the Filipino ring hero lost by unanimous decision to Mexican Erik Morales. Finkel has started laying the groundwork for Pacquiao’s next career move.
The well-respected boxing manager yesterday informed members of the boxing media that he and Top Rank president Bob Arum, who also promotes Morales’ fights, will soon sit down to draw up a grudge rematch between Pacquiao and the Mexican star.
Arum expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the fight Sunday, praising both Pacquiao and Morales for putting on a classic fight to the delight of the 14,326 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to an industry source, Finkel is looking at a Pacquiao-Morales rematch “sometime in September.”
The same source said Finkel is also considering letting Pacquiao fight another foe “in summer” in the East Coast, where a big chunk of the Filipino diaspora is concentrated.
Meanwhile, doctors have suggested that Pacquiao undergo a corrective plastic surgery to close the deep cut he sustained following the accidental headbutt by Morales in the fifth round of their 12-round fight Saturday.
Pacquiao virtually fought with one eye in the second half of the fight with blood oozing from the cut hampering his vision and affecting his defenses.
Reports coming out of Las Vegas said a team of doctors will re-examine the Filipino fighter’s cut above the right eye to find out if the wound was properly stitched.
After resting the whole morning yesterday, Pacquiao joined Finkel for a brunch at one of the restaurants at the MGM Grand Hotel.
