For a guy who admits he has never met Manny Pacquiao in person, former sportscaster/boxing manager Hermie Rivera sure sounds like he is within the inner circle of the boxer?s most trusted associates.
To start with, Hermie is updated on the latest moves of the boxer, like the actual date of his departure for Los Angeles where he will file charges against promoter Murad Muhammad in court to recover what is due him from the Pay-per-View contract of his fight against Mexican Erik Morales in Las Vegas last March.
“Contrary to what you have read in the papers, Manny is leaving for the United States on Wednesday and not tomorrow, Tuesday, where three lawyers are waiting for him. Since all paperworks have been completed, he will probably stay there for only about a week.”
Hermie said two of the three, Keith Davidson and Nicolas Cahn, are manager Shelly Finkel?s lawyers.
What tickles his imagination, he said, is that Manny has also hired a third, which is a criminal lawyer.
“I can only take this to mean that even if Manny recovers his money, he will not stop there. It looks like he will proceed to file criminal charges against Murad Muhammad.”
But that won?t be until he has rescinded his contract with the promoter which is still good for one more fight.
Hermie said the lawyers stand to get 25 percent of Manny?s collectibles.
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Based on the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act which was passed in the United States basically to protect boxers from exploitation, Hermie is a hundred percent confident that Pacquiao will win his case.
“This is the reason why I am monitoring this case with keen interest. I am relating it to the situation of boxers like Rodel Mayol and Luisito Espinosa who are victims of exploitation,” Hermie said, reminding me that Louie?s eight-year court case against ex-South Cotabato Gov. Larry de Pedro, Rod Nazario and Lito Mondejar has been gathering dust in the sala of Judge Rosario Cruz.
“The trio owes Luis $150,000. Sarreal also owes Mayol, but I don?t know exactly how much,” said Hermie who disclosed intentions of pushing for a law similar to the Ali Act here in the Philippines to “help the downtrodden boxers.”
“I feel there is an immediate need for the enactment of such a law here in our country,” Hermie said.
A seven-page copy of the Ali provision was faxed to me by Hermie yesterday, but since I had no time to read the fine, single-spaced print, I asked him to summarize what it said in his own words and in the shortest way possible.
“In effect, the Ali Act provides that a promoter is not entitled to receive any compensation for a boxing match unless he discloses, one, the amount he will receive and two, all fees, charges and expenses that will be assessed by him pertaining to the match including any portion of the boxer?s purse and training expenses.”
“That?s what the Ali Reform Act is all about,” said Hermie who expects Pacquiao to turn his attention to the Philippine television coverage of the fight once the PPV issue is settled.
Like the PPV contract, Hermie said Pacquiao didn?t get a single centavo from the local TV coverage, a deal that was negotiated by Solar Sports and Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario.
