DON KING STARTED THE PACQUIAO CONTROVERSY IN CHINA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 08 Nov 2008
American promoter Don King started the controversy that resulted in the damage to the image of Filipino ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao as well as the Philippines itself at the 46th Annual Convention in Chengdu, China.
Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that when the issue of a $20,000 offer by Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz as sanction fee for the ?Dream Match? against Oscar De La Hoya was raised at the convention, King said such an offer was ?a crime? considering Pacquiao stood to make between $15 to $20 million.
It was Gomez who was asked to clarify the issue and told the convention that the amount was nowhere near the figure mentioned and was ?less than half? the $15-$20 million bruited about.
Gomez told us he ?felt very bad that Manny was made to look like a petty thief. It was bad for him, bad for his image, bad for boxing because they ridiculed him before representatives from around the world and that?s a shame. He deserves more respect.?
Gomez said ?I like Manny. He has done so much not just for Filipino fighters but Asian fighters and all boxers. He has opened doors and has been great for the sport.?
There is speculation that King who has signed up as Marco Antonio Barrera?s promoter as mentioned by Col. Bob Sheridan during the Barrera-Sammy Ventura mismatch in China on Friday night is manipulating to have Pacquiao stripped of the WBC lightweight title so Barrera can step up and try to win a fourth world title at 135 pounds.
The No. 1 ranked fighter in that division is Edwin Valero who is handled by influential Japanese businessman-sportsman Akihiko Honda although Valero has been cleared to fight only in Texas because of brain surgery years ago following a motorcycle accident.
The irony of the situation is that when we raised the issue of the Barrera-Ventura mismatch the WBC issued a statement effectively disowning the fight. The statement said the world organization "disclaims any responsibility regarding the fight" and noted that it was a Don King promotion and the WBC "had nothing to do with the Barrera-Ventura fight."
In an effort to assuage hurt feelings caused by his initial remarks and the reports that came out of the convention about Pacquiao and the controversy over sanction fees, WBC president Jose Sulaiman issued a press release in which he stated ? ?We love Manny Pacquiao. He is our superstar. He is the pride of the WBC and he represents one of the most beloved countries in the world in the WBC, such as the great Philippines."
Sulaiman went on to say "Mr. Pacquiao is very ill-advised and they are hurting his image and the people that helped open doors for him, without any knowledge of what is fair or what is not and those people advising Manny are not only not doing their right job, but they are hurting his image for what is the truth and with the intention to destroy the image of the WBC, as if we were beggars and belt merchants."
In conclusion Sulaiman said ?We will always love Manny Pacquiao whether he stays or not, but we ask him to give consideration to the institution that opened the doors for his greatness."
Top photo: WBC President Jose Sulaiman (L) and American Promoter Don King at the WBC Annual Convention in Chengdu, China.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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