I spoke to ubiquitous Manny Pacquiao agent Michael Koncz as he ran for a flight from Manila to Los Angeles and then on to Puerto Rico where Pinoy boxer Bernabe Concepcion will fight world champion Juan Manuel Lopez on July 10.
Koncz was even more tight-lipped than Pacman promoter Bob Arum about the status of the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao contracts for a Nov. 13 Super Fight at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
Arum has told several media outlets that Pacman’s final offer is on the table for Team Mayweather’s perusal and that mid-July is the deadline for final agreement or rejection of the deal.
An abnormally diplomatic Arum even went so far as to reveal that the Pacquiao terms, if not acceptable for November, are also in effect for a 2011 bout between the two welterweight titans.
“We’re all on the same page,” Koncz said. “Manny knows this. I don’t want to quibble on what the exact deadline date is, it’s whatever Bob said, I think he said two weeks. If Mayweather doesn’t want it, then Manny will move on with a different opponent for November.”
Pacman adviser Michael Koncz said Manny Pacquiao made some concessions but so did Floyd Mayweather for a Nov. 13 Las Vegas super bout (Pacland)
Koncz, the Canadian native who Pacquiao relies heavily upon in all business matters, said concessions were made by both fighters in the negotiation process.
“Frankly,” Koncz said, “I can say they both made some concessions. One guy made concessions and so did the other guy. It was not a one way street by any means.
“Like I told Bob when he was here in the Philippines for the (Congressional) election, I felt it was crucial for everyone to keep quiet, to handle the negotiations in private this time. This was done, for the most part, and we made great progress.”
I asked Koncz to get specific on the mutual concessions and he suggested I swallow an old, frozen hockey puck for a few hours and then ring him back.
Over to you, L’il Floyd.
What’s your professional calendar looking like?
