LOS ANGELES: We all knew Manny Pacquiao was fast with his fists. It turns out the Filipino boxing champ is quick with his wits as well.
Describing it as a career-defining move, the Ring Magazine featherweight champion on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) signed a 2-year management deal with famed manager Shelly Finkel and boxing lawyers Keith Davidson and Nicholas Khan here.
The management contract was signed in front of California State Athletic Commissioner Dean Lohaus, after which Pacquiao said he had thought of signing a new team a hundred times, adding it was the best decision of his life.
The 26-year-old pride of General Santos City said with the new management deal?which his American trainer Freddie Roach likely had a hand in?he felt that he was now in control of his own destiny.
?With a competent team at my side, now I can concentrate on just fighting. I trust my new team and that is very important,? Pacquiao said.
The boxer, who is scheduled to fight Erik Morales on March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, was able to enter the management contract after his earlier pact with Marty Elorde expired on January 31.
A source said that Elorde, the youngest son of the late legendary world champion Flash Elorde, was happy for Pacquiao and wished the boxer best.
The source added that Pacquiao also got a $300,000 (P16.5 million) signing bonus in hooking up with Finkel, who manages former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and current heavyweight titlist Vitali Klitschko.
However, Pacquiao has not totally cut loose with his former handlers, retaining his longtime business manager Rod Nazario, who has also served as the fighter?s father figure for the past 7 years.
?My son Roberto called from the United States this morning informing me of the contract with Finkel. He also told me that Manny intends to retain me as his business manager,? Nazario said on Thursday.
Nazario added he also learned of the development from his partner and American promoter Murad Muhammad, who had negotiated with fellow ring impresario Bob Arum of Top Rank for Pacquiao?s megabuck fight with Morales. He disclosed that Finkel also called him Thursday morning. ?He [Finkel] told me that he expected to work harmoniously with me and looked forward to a trouble-free relationship.?
?I just told him that as much as possible I would not like Pacquiao?s training to be disturbed now that his fight with Morales is drawing near. What Manny doesn?t need now are distractions,? Nazario said.
He added that he has not met Finkel personally ?only that I have been hearing a lot about him?both positive and negative. Finkel said he looked forward to seeing me.?
Nazario declined to comment on Pacquiao?s reported signing bonus, but said he gave the boxer pocket money before he left to train for the US.
Although he did not know what transpired in the Finkel deal, Nazario surmised that Roach may have acted as go-between between the Filipino ring icon and the American promoter.
?Roach is also the trainer of Mike Tyson, who is handled by Finkel. So you can draw the line from there.?
Pacquiao?s business manager is set to leave the country on February 15 for the fight of Bobby Pacquiao?Manny?s older brother?in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 18.
He said from Bangkok, he will proceed to the United States ?then we will finally get to meet Finkel and see the details of Pacquiao?s management contract.?
Finkel and Khan flew to New York City Wednesday to meet with Home Box Office executives Kerry Davis and Mark Taffert.
HBO is bankrolling the March 19 pay-per-view fight where PacMan is set to get a purse of $1.75 million (about P96.25 million).
?Manny is the most exciting fighter in the world today. It is for that reason that networks around the world and boxing fans demand to see Pacquiao in premier match-ups,? Finkel said.
?HBO stated that their only loyalty is to their viewing public, and both Taffert and Davis welcomed and acknowledged the new management team,? Finkel said.
Pacquiao said his desire to seek greatness has never been stronger.
?My only concern right now is to prepare well against Erik Morales, and I ask my fans and fellow Filipinos to continue to pray for my success,? Pacquiao said.
Roach was equally happy about Pacquiao?s decision to move with Finkel.
?I have treated Manny like a son and now, there will be no distractions. All we need to do is concentrate and map out a plan to beat Morales and put Manny to a higher level,? Roach said.
