NEW YORK –This is my year-end clearance on the ongoing Pacman saga. This information comes from a real insider who must not be named.
For simplification, let’s call him “Mr. Insider.” You can take it to the bank that he was privy to all the backbiting, trickeration and backstabbing between Golden Boy, Top Rank and the other major players. Yeah, he has an axe to grind but they all do. Here’s the supposed inside dope from Mr. I.
“Manny politely and respectfully rebuffed Freddie’s offer to manage him. Michael Koncz lives at Manny’s house at Manny’s behest. Koncz didn’t just move in,” Mr. I told me.
“Manny’s decision to go with TR was his alone, on the advice of his real attorneys and father-in-law. Jeng and Wakee Salud and Koncz are there, but they don’t call any shots. It’s Manny’s ballgame, and if he wanted Freddie and/or Finkel’s advice, he knows how to get it.
“The real in-fighting was between Freddie and Shelly, and then when they realized they were eating each other, they tried too late to team up and go forward together. Manny saw what was going on with the internal squabbling, and decided to go another direction. They pushed too hard for Golden Boy, for self-serving reasons.”
Imagine that, fight fans, people being self-serving in a war for money. I must say that I, for one, am shocked and appalled to hear that. Sounds like a gathering of Hessian soldiers.
Mr. I said that Pacman was “relieved” when trainer Roach told him he would stay on as trainer even though the fighter has pledged his business affairs to Bob Arum. But the I Man also said Pacquiao had a mental short list of replacements in case Roach continued to balk.
“He is glad Freddie supported his final decision,” Mr. I said. “He wants Freddie with him. And you know that, as long as Manny is happy, Arum will not interfere with the trainer. But Manny was concerned and continues to be concerned that Freddie might jump ship for the big money and huge publicity he would garner as Oscar’s trainer. If Freddie ever said he was going with Oscar, Manny was prepared to say good luck and goodbye.”
([email protected] Michael Marley wishes each and every one of our readers a Happy New Year. Keep it locked on our site for the best boxing reporting, opinion and analysis on the planet. Thanks for your patronage!)
