Wednesday, December 20, 2006 Arum has no case: finkel
BOB Arum and his promotional outfit Top Rank Inc. has no chance of winning the legal battle with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions over Manny Pacquiao, says Shelley Finkel, the American manager of the Filipino ring icon.
Finkel, who arrived in the country last week together with Hall of Famer boxing trainer Freddie Roach to attend the triple bash thrown by Pacquiao in his hometown, General Santos City last Sunday, said Top Rank has no hold over the Filipino boxing superstar’s promotional right. He did not elaborate.
Finkel was largely responsible for Pacquiao’s victorious legal claim against his former promoter Murad Muhammad, whom he sued for mishandling his funds after he lost to Erik Morales in their first meeting last year.
Cebuano boxing promoter and Pacquiao’s adviser Rex “Wakee” Salud agreed with Finkel.
Possible
“What he (Finkel) thinks could be right. You must remember that he was the one who helped Manny win the case over Murad,” Salud said.
Salud arrived yesterday from General Santos City and will host Roach for a few days. He was scheduled to visit the RWS Gym in Punta Princesa yesterday afternoon but his flight was delayed.
“I don’t want to comment further on this issue because this battle is in the (US) courts now. Let’s just wait for further developments,” Salud added.
Next foes
If Finkel’s predictions prove true, Pacquiao would fight next Marco Antonio Barrera for the WBC super-featherweight title and probably Juan Manuel Marquez next.
Both Barrera and Marquez are under promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions.
However, Roach has another thing in mind— Pacquiao should dump both contracts in order not to hamper his relationship with both promoters.
Roach, who had elevated Pacquiao into stardom, believe that it is the best thing the Filipino boxing hero should do to protect his image in boxing.
Pacquiao signed up with Golden Boy Promotions last September, but after his 3rd round TKO win over Morales last Nov. 19, Arum announced that the Filipino fighter had reneged his contract with Golden Boy Promotions and signed a two-year promotional deal with his outfit Top Rank. (RCM)
