By Ronnie Nathanielsz
BEHIND the façade of confidence and stability in the camp of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao is a quiet struggle for his management and promotional rights with big players in the United States and smaller fry in the Philippines getting into the act.
Pacquiao himself has put an end to speculations over a widely held belief that when his management contract with the astute Shelly Finkel and lawyers Nick Kahn and Keith Davidson ends on Jan. 31 next year, the explosive and exciting fighter will not re-sign.
In an interview with boxing writer Ryan Macalua, Pacquiao said: “No,” when asked whether he was leaving Finkel. “I don’t know where that story came about, but none of this is true.”
Oscar de la Hoya visited Pacquiao while he was training at the Wild Card Gym as a further indication of Golden Boy’s interest in signing up probably the most exciting fighter in the world today and considered by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter.
De la Hoya arrived when Pacquiao was winding down his first day of training and said he wanted to sign up the Filipino, whom he regards as the best super featherweight in the world today. But De La Hoya wanted Pacquiao to concentrate on his rubber match with Morales and would not wish to talk business at this point.
