LOS ANGELES – Boxing manager Shelly Finkel has assured Manny Pacquiao that he will withdraw the case he filed against the GenSan fighter’s advisers after finally coming up to terms with lawyer Franklin Gacal and confidant Wakee Salud.
Finkel had filed a lawsuit against Gacal and Salud, alleging that they coerced Pacquiao into signing a disadvantageous contract with ABS-CBN, which is staging Pacquiao’s July 2 megabuck fight with Oscar Larios of Mexico.
But after smoking the peace pice, both parties are now fully relieved.
“We have come to an agreement and both parties are relieved that it’s over,” said Salud.
Finkel said he’s withdrawing the case filed against them to prove that he is after Pacquiao’s welfare.
Finkel met with Gacal and Salud at La Piazza on Sunday evening moments after the Filipinos planed in from New York. Finkel was joined in the 30-minute meeting by Nicholas Khan and Joe Ramos.
“They have promised us that the lawsuit will be pulled out and that they would meet us tomorrow (Monday afternoon) at the Wild Card to show that they’ve done what they promised,” said Gacal.
Gacal and Salud arrived here from New York where they watched Bobby Pacquiao’s sensational fourth-round knockout of Kevin Kelley, to meet with a lawyer who will aide them in coming up with a counter-affidavit.
Last week, Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach expressed concern over the lawsuit filed by Finkel. Khan and Keith Davidson had earlier demanded $ 7.5-million.
The latest development only made it look rosier for Team Pacquiao as there are only a few weeks remaining before the Larios showdown.
Pacquiao is scheduled to spar at the Wild Card against Russians Rustam Nugaev and Vladimir Zykov and an Arab banger as Roach wants his prized pupil to look good in the final week of his training.
Pacquiao and Roach are flying to Manila on June 18 via Philippine Airlines.
Pacquiao is revving up for a rubber match with Erik Morales on Nov. 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Larios, now training in Tokyo, however, said he will ruin Pacquiao’s grand plans.
