REIGNING Ring Magazine featherweight king Manny Pacquiao has found a new manager in American Shelly Finkel.
Last Jan. 31, Pacquiao became a free-agent following the expiration of his five-year contract with Elorde, son of the great Flash Elorde.
“Yes, I have been informed already. Ok lang,” Elorde, considered as one of the nicest boxing managers in the country, said yesterday.
Finkel, who heads the Shelly Finkel Management firm, is best known as the de facto manager and promoter of Mike Tyson, aside from being the representative of WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko and his brother, ex-WBO heavyweight champ Vladimir Klitschko.
He is described by well-respected American boxing historian Thomas Hauser as a “survivor in the jungle that is professional boxing.”
His role as a manager and advisor to Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Mark Breland, and Meldrick Taylor as well as the best of America’s 1984 Olympic boxing team is considered the cornerstone of Finkel’s career.
Popular boxing website Boxingtalk, which first reported the news of Pacquiao’s having inked the deal with Finkel, reported that the New York-based manager Finkel called up to inform its publisher Greg Leon of the latest news, which was confirmed by members of Team Pacquiao later.
“Finkel is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world with regard to the business of boxing. He has the ability to relate to television executives, promoters, the media, and fighters. He also stirs passions (both pro and con) in the manner of Bill Clinton and George Bush,” Hauser wrote.
“Finkel’s supporters say that he’s trustworthy, tenacious, and tough. They point to his quiet personality and ability to get most jobs done. Everyone agrees that Finkel is a tireless worker, persistent, and very smart,” Hauser added.
However, Finkel also has his share of detractors who refer to him as hypocritical and shameless. They have labeled him as the originator of “Shelly speak” (“carefully phrased truths that leave a misimpression”) and “Ninety-Percent Finkel” (“Shelly tells you ninety percent of the truth, but not the last ten percent, which is what you need to know.”)
Reportedly, Don King has labeled Finkel “Bob Arum in sheep’s clothing.”
Considering King’s abhorrence for his rival promoter, it’s impossible that the statement was made as a compliment.
King obviously has no love lost for Arum.
