Reliable sources indicate that Manny Pacquiao will speak to the media Thursday in Manila and that Top Rank honcho Bob Arum will be at his side.
And the winner is…at least in the short-term, maybe in the long-term, Arum as it appears he had the right jockey, agent Michael Koncz, influencing the Pacman to go with Top Rank and to spurn Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
It is believed that Arum went to the Philippines Islands with a million dollar package to strengthen his promotional hold on Pacman, said package to include complete indemnification from any legal judgments the exciting fighter might get hit with by Golden Boy Promotions.
“If Arum has solidified his position, this is his greatest coup since the Ali era,” a source said of the 75-year-old promoter.
Trainer Freddie Roach, who literally brought Pacman to Golden Boy, was not immediately available for comment. Neither was Pacman’s manager, Shelly Finkel, whose contract expires the end of January.
There is a feud going on between Roach and Koncz. Roach has barred Koncz from visiting Roach’s Wild Card Gym in LA. There have also been reports about Koncz owing money to the trainer.
