Earlier today, the internet was buzzing with news that Manny Pacquiao had fired long-time adviser Michael Koncz. According to a report by Manny Pinol of Philboxing.com, reliable sources informed him that Pacquiao had finally “dismissed Michael Koncz as his business advisor and manager of MP Promotions for a litany of missteps and blunders”. Lem Satterfield of RingTV.com would later confirm the report as well, also citing a source in Pacquiao’s camp. The shocking news prompted several reporters to reach out to Koncz throughout the day, but there was no official response from any member of Team Pacquiao late this evening. According to both Koncz and promoter Bob Arum, the news of his departure was nothing more than a rumor started by certain individuals who are jealous of his relationship with Pacquiao and gunning for his job.
“No, it’s all bullshit. I know someone who has talked to Manny, and it’s all nonsense. It’s all a made up story. Up until a few hours ago, when I talked to [Filipino reporter] Ronnie Nathanielsz, who called me after he had dinner with Manny last night, I didn’t know what to say. Now I do,” Arum would explain to Lem Satterfield as he denied the very same report that Satterfield previously confirmed. While it seems odd that Arum would have to speak to a reporter, as opposed to Pacquiao himself, in order to figure out what was going on, he’s confident that the news was nothing more than a rumor. “I know who started it, but I’m not going to tell you. I know why they started it. There are a lot of these people who are looking to get rid of Michael so that they can feather their own nest,” Arum continued. “Ronnie Nathanielsz had dinner with Manny last night, and said that Manny laughed it off and laughed up a storm about it, so it’s all baloney. Ronnie said that Manny called it ‘a bunch of hooey.'”
