Pacquiao lets Top Rank take control of Endorsements from disorganized team

Saw a Top Rank article yesterday but wasn't interested in sharing it until interestingly enough, a member of Team Pacquiao posted this up. http://www.mpboxing.com/blog/2011/03/23/chaos-organized-pacquiao-finally-has-one-voice-for-his-sponsors/#more-2818 In order to build the type of long-lasting legacy that Manny Pacquiao deserves, there needs to be one company handling that responsibility; just one company that has the knowledge, power, insight, intelligence, and contacts to make this once-in-a-lifetime athlete a truly global icon. Finally, one company has been given that opportunity. Earlier this week, it was announced that Top Rank Promotions would be taking full control of… Manny Pacquiao’s endorsement deals and for all the Pacfans around the world, the news should be music to their ears. Up until this point, there have been a number of people who have represented Manny Pacquiao in the United States. Truth be told, there was so much disorganization that most big companies in the US market were unsure of who was truly representing the Filipino icon. Over the years, Pacquiao himself has signed a number of authorization letters allowing individuals without any real qualifications to represent him to big agencies. I should know because I was one of those unqualified people that he entrusted to get him endorsement deals. I’ll be the first to admit, I, as well as every other person to my knowledge that has represented Pacquiao thus far, failed miserably for a combination of reasons. I can’t speak for others, but I can divulge what my own experience was like. First off, on several occassions, I was not necessarily the first person to approach a particular organization. You can imagine how it may have looked to a company when several different people contacted them for the exact same thing. To make matters worse, I had absolutely no clue about Manny Pacquiao’s contracts in the Philippines. Unbeknownst to many, Manny Pacquiao has a number of deals in the Philippines that might actually prevent a potential deal in the United States. Without having firsthand knowledge of each and every contract, the process of getting a deal done is severely hampered when you constantly have to check for conflicts on the other side of the world. If you don’t know exactly when Manny Pacquiao will be in the US, or what exclusive deals he has in the Philippines, it’s difficult to get companies to commit. I personally want nothing but the best for Manny Pacquiao, and for that reason, I am extremely happy to hear that now he has one company, Top Rank, working to solidify his endorsement deals. Just as they have done in boxing, I am confident Top Rank will brand the Pacquiao name properly around the world. For so long, Pacquiao’s image has been used by so many individuals without the proper credentials that it’s a blessing for Top Rank to step in and take control. Not only is it a blessing for Manny Pacquiao’s bank account, but it’s also a blessing for his family, his fans, and most importantly, his legacy. For the record, I surprisingly have to give credit where credit is due and thank Michael Koncz for convincing Pacquiao to agree to let Top Rank single-handedly handle his endorsement deals. Believe it or not, behind the scenes, Michael Koncz has been pushing for this move for quite some time now. Pacquiao, however, was reluctant because he truly wanted to give his friends an opportunity to benefit from his own success. Although Pacquiao should be commended for his loyalty to his friends, it also created confusion and may have ultimately limited his opportunities. Convincing Pacquiao to bring in Top Rank was no easy task for Koncz, but he got it done and he should be commended for that.