EXCLUSIVE REPORT
Don’t tinkle with Shelly Finkel.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times.
The veteran boxing manager, who will be properly be inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame this weekend, is reportedly considering an offer of between $500,000 to a million dollars to lose his Golden (Boy) handcuffs and sign on with fledgling boxing promoter known as The Empire.
Finkel turns age 66 on June 27.
Finkel has it made in the shade because this new group, run by Marc Roberts relative Greg Cohen and a South Florida money guy named Barry Honig, needs Sheldon for credibility.
“Their end game is to take the company public like Roberts did with Triple Threat and they want Finkel’s resume scribbled all over their public stock offering,” said a man who knows.
In recent years, as the Duva clan split apart and Main Events declined, Finkel worked his way into a sort of House Manager slot with Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy operation based in Los Angeles.
What with GBP’s favored nation, five year deal with HBO expiring next year, perhaps the Brooklyn born manager is ready to change partners.
Finkel briefly handled Manny Pacquiao but is better known for his handling of Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor, Pernell Whitaker and, at the tail end of his career, Mike Tyson.
Back in the Day: Manny Pacquiao, Coach Freddie Roach and veteran manager Shelly Finkel (AP Photo)
The way things go in boxing these days, where managers are basically eununchs, it is not a stretch to think that Finkel may be the last of the managers with any juice.
There are those who feel, however, that Finkel has always been a promoter in manager’s clothing.
I can see validity to both viewpoints but the man who says “be good” as a way of bidding you hell and goodbye has had a great career run whatever label you want to put on his hat.
Now let’s see if Finkel stays Golden or casts his lot with The Empire.
Or, knowing the adroit maneuvers that Finkel has made over the decades, will he work for both companies?
Slick Rick has nothing on Finkel.
Remember, never tinkle with Finkel.
That’s long been a rule but is it a Golden rule?
