By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao’s close friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud said upon his arrival from the US yesterday that Pacquiao gave no concessions to his management team of Shelly Finkel and lawyers Nick Kahn and Keith Davidson in exchange for their dropping the lawsuits filed earlier against Pacquiao, Salud and lawyer Franklin “Jing” Gacal.

In a telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Salud stressed “I am not kidding you. There were no pre-conditions.” He said Finkel’s group kept their word to withdraw the suit with prejudice, meaning the case could not be re-filed. Salud said the formal documents will be hand-carried by Finkel when he arrives in Manila on Tuesday with Kahn, Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach and Gerry Penalosa.

Salud said before he left Pacquiao was in high spirits and looked really good in a workout at the Wild Card Gym although he appeared tired the previous day. Salud said “I hope that he will be in fine condition on the July 2 fight date.Salud said Penalosa was also “looking good in training.” The former WBC super flyweight champion fights Tomas Rojas on the undercard which will be telecast by ABS-CBN worldwide.

Salud said he will look at the facilities of the Amateur Boxing  Association gym at the Rizal Memorial complex stating that while Pacquiao had initially planned on training at the Wild Card Gym in Sucat, Paranaque it was too small.