There is dissent in Manny Pacquiao’s empire, and many point the finger at his advisers.
Think back to the time when you were forming your core circle of friends. Sure, we had playmates in elementary school, but for most of us, this would be at the end of junior high or beginning of high school. While maybe not aiming for Homecoming King or Queen, we all wanted friends who we thought were “cool.” And most of us probably at some point ran up against our parents in this quest to be cool, because they didn’t think our friends were “cool” at all. And most of us at some point probably heard this line: “You are judged by the company you keep.”
Taking a look at Manny Pacquiao’s company, on the surface we see the pound-for-pound multiple-weight champion, boxing megastar and Philippine national hero, Manny Pacquiao. With a smile that could light up a room, the playfulness of a child, and a heart of gold, Manny wouldn’t appear to have a care in the world. We see his charming wife, Jinkee, and his precocious kids, whose number rapidly approaches that of a TLC reality show. We see Freddie Roach, possibly boxing’s best active trainer, who cares for Manny like a son, and is immensely proud not only of the work he has put into Manny, but proud of how Manny performs with that training. And we see Bob Arum, Manny’s promoter. As much as we instinctively distrust promoters, Arum genuinely shows concern for Pacquiao, not only as his cash cow, but as an associate, an equal of the big man of boxing.
What a pretty picture. What could possibly go wrong?
The Filipino boxing press has picked up on something that I could have told you a long time ago, and just hoped it wasn’t true. But I’m afraid that it might be. Look past the happy surface, and you’ll see villains. Villains much akin to Disney’s Aladdin: a slimy royal advisor and his crony sidekick. As much as it disheartens me, let’s call a spade a spade:
MANNY PACQUIAO’S DOWNFALL WILL BE AT THE HANDS OF HIS ADVISORS, MICHAEL KONCZ AND FRANKLIN “JENG” GACAL.
The Filipino fans of Manny Pacquiao have always been distrustful of Koncz, but now, as his mega-bout with highly-credible threat Miguel Cotto looms about eight weeks away, Cotto is well into his camp, but Pacquiao hasn’t started his yet. And Filipinos point the finger at one man.
“Every boxing fan wants this guy out of Pacquiao’s team pronto,” said FJ Parlan, Philippine boxing correspondent at 411mania.com when asked about advisor Koncz’s reputation in Pacquiao’s homeland. “Right now, Roach… has punctuated the hate on Koncz.”
Fans in the Philippines agree. “Why would he let a foreigner whom he barely knew have access to his pocket? Hasn’t he done his research? This Koncz dude is dirty,” claims Ivrin Ryan C. Madla, a Philippine boxing fan. “I say Pacquiao shouldn’t trust that man.”
The “research” that Madla alludes to stems from allegations that the chain-smoking, foul-mouthed country boy Koncz has swindled and taken advantage of other Filipino fighters.
“This Koncz personality has been sending Filipinos abroad to lose,” said Madla. “He stopped Rubillar’s fight when he’s not a cornerman! He sent Abe Concepcion late to Vegas before Pinoy Power 2.”
Parlan also says that Koncz has been in the news before, due to allegations that he “swindled money from other Filipino fighters such as Juanito Rubillar…. Now those are resurfacing.”
Every villain needs a lackey, and Michael Koncz seems to have found his in the form of lawyer, Franklin “Jeng” Gacal. Back in winter of 2008, negotiations between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton were high-strung, and patience was wearing thin. When Hatton’s camp finally conceded a 52/48 percent split with the lion’s share going to Manny, both Bob Arum of Top Rank and Oscar de la Hoya and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions seemed happy with this set up. And yet, Pacquiao’s camp turned it down, claiming it wasn’t enough of a share of the purse. Allegations rose from insiders that Pacquiao had nothing to do with the rejection, and that the blame fell on Koncz and his lawyer Gacal.
“Of course Pacquiao needs an attorney,” says Madla of Gacal, “but he should just do his job. No need to tell Pacquiao what to do, which is the case most of the time.”
Koncz and Gacal are public enemies number 1 and 2 in the Philippines. Even promoter Bob Arum is becoming a more trusted figure these days. “Some think that he is just a greedy businessman trying to milk Pacquiao of what he can, but many respect him as a big time black-tie man who respects Pacquiao,” says Parlan of the Top Rank CEO.
So who has the trust in the Pacquiao camp? Manny? Yes, but with qualification: “He listens to people around him too much,” says Madla. “Too much like a child who gets swayed by every whisper.”
The trust clearly lies in the other major American in Manny’s camp — trainer Freddie Roach. “I think the Philippines are ready to adopt this guy,” says Parlan. “He is very respected here and fans are truly appreciative of what he has done with Pacquiao. Those in the know about boxing who follows the current issue wherein Roach can’t get to Pacquiao right now, we actually are for Roach in this one rather than Pacquiao.”
Madla agrees. “Great admiration and respect for his work in Manny’s career while battling illness. Filipinos take Coach Freddie as our own.”
With the current situation of Manny’s “unreachability” through any channel other than Koncz being a long list in a myriad of rifts between Roach and the camp, even Pacquiao’s native fans are ready to give him up so he can fight again. When asked whether Filipinos would rather see him train in his homeland or in a remote locale like parts of Mexico, Parlan replied, “Right now, the boxing fans are just concerned that he starts to train already. And actually, we don’t like him to train home.”
Although many of Manny’s entourage are looked upon with a judgmental eye (“Generally, if you’re around Pacquiao, you’re not getting the benefit of the doubt from us, at the very least,” says Parlan), Koncz and Gacal are the ones with targets on their head. Many boxing writers have said that the only opponent that can defeat Manny Pacquiao right now is Manny Pacquiao.
Allow me to introduce you to that opponent’s cornermen.
