Monday, October 30, 2006 Gacal flies to Croatia for WBC convention By Edwin G. Espejo
LAWYER Franklin "Jeng" Gacal Jr. left for Manila Wednesday last week where he is scheduled to take a flight for Croatia to attend the World Boxing Council (WBC) convention.
Gacal said he will represent MP Promotions, a company founded earlier this year by Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao.
"We need to make our presence known and felt in the boxing world now that Manny has his own promotional outfit," Gacal said in an interview in his hometown General Santos City.
Gacal said this is crucial trip for Manny to continue promoting local boxers.
MP Promotions made its promotional debut in July this year where Pacquiao top-billed the Philippine vs. Mexico card held at the Araneta Coliseum.
Manny knocked down Mexico's Oscar Larios twice en route to a 12-round unanimous decision win.
Pacquiao is now in Los Angeles and is in the thick of preparation for his third fight with Erik Morales, which is scheduled for November 18 (November 19 Manila time).
He recently signed up with Golden Boy Promotions for a seven-fight contract that will commence after his fight with Morales.
Pacquiao received a hefty $300,000 signing bonus from Oscar dela Hoya, founder of Golden Boy Promotions.
Gacal said backroom maneuverings are known to occur during conventions of world boxing bodies to position a fighter in their respective rankings.
"Even mandatory challenges are lobbied during conventions. We are just learning the ropes of this wheeling and dealing," said Gacal, MP Promotions corporate secretary and lawyer-confidante of Pacquiao.
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