HARDLY HAS the sweat dried from Manny Pacquiao?s body than the pack has moved in to get a share of the hottest boxing property nowadays. Even before the Filipino Pacman annihilated Erik Morales last November 18, two of the biggest American promotional outfits have engaged in a bitter tug-of-war as to who should rightfully promote Pacquiao?s future fights.
A case was filed in the States by Golden Boy Promotions just as Manny was all set to leave for home (he was scheduled to arrive Manila early this morning).
It all started last September immediately after Pacquiao stepped foot on American soil to start his training for his trilogy with the Mexican icon, Morales. Upon arrival at the Los Angeles Airport , the Gensan sensation was met by his trainer Freddie Roach who, it turned out, had Oscar de la Hoya with him. With Pacquiao in the plane was his adviser Wakee Salud, who was rumored to be in with de la Hoya?s former promoter and now fiercest competitor, Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions.
And so Manny went with his entire party to a fast food restaurant, only to disappear with his lawyer Franklin Gacal and a few other friends, unbeknownst to Salud. It seems he went to another restaurant to meet with Oscar de la Hoya, who owns Golden Boy Promotions. There, he was dined and consequently signed to a promotional contract with the popular boxer/promoter. Mum was supposed to be the word, but as these things go, word leaked out just a few days after the hush-hush contract signing and all hell broke loose.
Arum, who is Morales? promoter and who also staged the Grand Finale between the two popular fighters, cried foul, claiming Manny?s contract with him stipulated he could not enter into any other contract before the November 18 play date.
De la Hoya countered that Arum?s argument was hogwash and everything was on the up and up as far as his agreement with Pacquiao was concerned and as fellow boxers, they understood each other and that GBP was going to look after the interest of the Pacman.
The veteran Arum, a lawyer by profession, eventually settled down and kept his silence thereafter, and just mildly hinted that he was confident that when all was said and done, it was still his Top Rank that would handle Pacquiao?s next fights.
Suspicious, GBP just issued a stern warning that they would be in hot legal pursuit of Arum should he as much as indicate he would try to sign Pacquiao.
Then came the bomb detonated by the Top Rank head honcho immediately after the Pacquiao-Morales fight. With Pacquiao and Roach silently watching, Arum announced that he had signed Manny to a four-year promotional contract. In so many words, he consequently accused GBP of taking advantage of Manny?s being tired from a 15-hour flight and even mentioned that Manny could not have fully understood the consequences of his actions, not having enough educational background to competently comprehend the situation.
A reported 0K (#350K signing bonus and 0K cash advance) was returned to GBP but was not accepted by the latter.
Amidst a howl of protest from Pacquiao fans of their idol being unnecessarily dragged into a legal tussle even as he had not yet started to celebrate with his followers, Arum assured that he would take care of the charges himself and would see to it that Manny would be shielded from the fracas.
Yesterday, the battle begun with the first volley fired by the de la Hoya camp by way of a case filed before a Los Angeles court against Arum?s firm. In a statement released by GBP Vice President Eric Gomez through their Philippine associate ALA Boxing Gym, Golden Boy alleges tortuous interference by Top Rank in their “existing, fully negotiated and executed promotional agreement with Manny Pacquiao.”
GBP pointed to Pacquiao associates Michel Koncz, Wakee Salud and lawyer Gacal as the ones who erroneously advised Pacquiao and “conspired against Golden Boy and induced Manny to breach his agreement.” It is alleged that Gacal had negotiated, reviewed, initialed and signed the GBP contract that Manny went into.
Follow-up law suits are also being readied against the three aforementioned individuals, according to Gomez.
Gomez said GBP was proud to have Manny in their stable of boxers and that their president, de la Hoya himself would be pleased to sit with Manny “man to man and fighter to fighter” to clear up the mess.
Pacquiao has consistently refused to comment on the matter.
