DAPIDRAN SAGA CONTINUES: NERI READIES CASE AGAINST LEWKOWICZ
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 24 Aug 2015
CEBU CITY ? In the rapidly escalating dispute between MP Boxing Gym's Raides 'Nonoy' Neri and American promoter Sampson Lewkowicz regarding the signing of undefeated boxer Jonel 'The Kid Pacquiao' Dapidran by both outfits, it is now Neri's camp's turn to announce their next move.
Neri has acquired the services of lawyer Epifanio Almeda of Cavite City to represent him in the case that they will soon file against Lewkowicz in a Davao regional trial court.
Almeda, who is also a long time boxing judge, sent a letter to Lewkowicz's lawyer Leon R. Margules telling him that ?The act of pirating Jonel [Dapidran] violated the rights of Mr. Neri and the MP Boxing Gym.?
In the same letter, Almeda said that ?... Lewkowicz, known to be a professional and a gentleman, should have considered all the facts surrounding Jonel's boxing career before he signed up Jonel to his boxing promotions outfit? adding ?it is not true that the management agreement Jonel entered into with the MP Boxing Gym and Mr. Neri is unenforceable.?
In an interview with Philboxing, Almeda said ?the fact of the matter is the management contract is still in place. Only a competent court of law can render the contract invalid. No one, including Lewkowicz, Gello-ani or their lawyers, can arbitrarily say that the management contract is invalid and therefore make that contract invalid. Lewkowicz's lawyer cannot be lawyer and judge at the same time.?
Almeda continued, ?The proper thing for them to do was to have first asked a Philippine court to nullify the management contract and once its nullified, only then could they have signed up Jonel to a promotional contract. Not that because they thought Jonel signed the contract without parental consent and therefore they are free to pirate the boxer for their own benefit. The fact is we can prove that Jonel signed the contract with parental consent and not all agreements need to in written form. We are working on its documentation now.?
Almeda said that this is a test case for the Philippine boxing industry that will address the bad practices of rouge managers and promoters who pirate boxers from other stables who have an existing contract. Gello-ani and boxer Johnriel Casimero have recently been sued by Pio Castillo Jr of the Omega Boxing Gym, the registered manager of Johnriel Casimero, for breach of contract.
Neri, for his part, said that he doesn't want this issue to grow big. ?I'm easy to talk to and in fact I'm willing to let go of Jonel if only Sammy [Gello-ani] or Lewkowicz had approached me and talked to me about their intent. But their signing Jonel behind my back is foul. Bastos!? Neri said.
Responding to the question why he did not give any fight to Jonel since November, Neri said ?how can I give him a fight when he was not reporting to the gym? I have 23 boxers in my stable right now and it is only him that I encountered problems.?
Neri also said that Lewkowicz's plans to have Jonel fight in the Philippines first before giving him fights in the US is laughable. ?How can the GAB [Games & Amusements Board] give Jonel permission to fight here under another promoter when he is still under contract with me?? Neri said.
Asked when they will file the case against Lewkowicz, Neri said ?As soon as all documents are ready. But of course I'll consult Manny [Pacquiao] first before actually proceeding. He's the boss. If he say's to just let it go, we will let it go. It's all up to him.?
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