LAS VEGAS ? Cracks are beginning to show on the once-impregnable fortress that is Team Manny Pacquiao. That is bad news for fans back home.
On Thursday, two days before Pacquiao?s date with destiny against Erik Morales at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the Filipino had to be subjected to a last-minute medical examination consisting of an HIV test and retina check so the fight could be approved by the Nevada State Athletic Association (NSAC).
The new development is expected to play a big role in the closing days of Pacquiao?s preparation against Morales whom he faces Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).
Promoter Murad Muhammad lashed at trainer Freddie Roach?s failure to remind his fighter about the tests, saying the new group, which is made up of lawyers Keith Davidson and Nick Khan, publicist Winchell Campos and a retinue of unknowns from Los Angeles, are out to take the Filipino icon away from the original group, led by Rod Nazario, who had known Pacquiao since he was 13 years old.
Nazario leads a veteran cast of boxing men in his corner with Lito Mondejar, Ramon Lainez and Gerry Garcia rounding up the group and New York-based Puerto Rican Lenny de Jesus and Muhammad also making their presence felt.
Caught in the crossfire is Pacquiao?s childhood friend and training assistant, Buboy Fernandez, who has been refrained from getting heavily involved in the on-going crisis.
Pacquiao underwent the same kind of tests in January, but it only has a 30?day effectivity as per NSAC rules.
Roach claimed that Pacquiao had undergone the same kind of tests two weeks ago in California, but the results got lost.
Muhammad?s associate, Warren Flagg, said there were no tests done after he checked with the clinic that Roach and Pacquiao supposedly went to.
“He (Roach) did not pay attention to his responsibilities and we were only told that he had to take another test by the commission,” said Muhammad.
Efforts to get the reaction of Pacquiao proved futile after a certain Joseph Ramos did not let Filipino reporters enter the fighter?s junior suite saying the boxer was already in bed.
“No comment, no comment,” said Ramos, who has been tailing the fighter since their arrival here.
But General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon and Rey Golingan, who came immediately after the scribes had left, revealed that Pacquiao was still awake and that he was talking with one of his lawyers when they stepped inside for a short visit.
Pacquiao had earlier objected to take a retest for fear that his vision would blur although it was learned later from Acharon that the eye-drop used had no side effects.
Muhammad, who gave Pacquiao his break in the US, said the entry of Finkel and company has shaken up the hierarchy inside Team Pacquiao.
“I feel bad because every fight he makes sure that our athlete has the edge, mentally and physically. And what disturbs me is we had bond, unity and love and things like these would not have occurred,” said Muhammad.
Mondejar said there have been drastic changes inside the camp.
“Wala na. Talagang hindi na kagaya ng dati na sina Freddie, Buboy, ako at si Lenny lang ang nasa corner. Eh sino ba ang mga iyan? Eh wala naman ang mga iyan dati ah. Pero sige lang.”
The official weighin, incidentally, is set Friday at 3:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m. Saturday in Manila) at the Grand Garden Arena.
But with the rate things are going, only a victory on Saturday night would put a temporary stop to the increasingly volatile situation inside Pacquiao?s camp.
