NEWS FLASH: RICHIE MEPRANUM HAS NOT BEEN PAID HIS PURSE
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Jun 2010
A rising Filipino flyweight Richie Mepranum of Saranggani Province who lost in his title bid against Julio Cesar Miranda at Puebla, Mexico a week ago is now back in the Philippines to ?ponder his loss and go back to the drawing board?, so to speak.
Although it will be so easy to point a finger at him for the bad showing particularly after a stellar performance against ?Tyson? Marquez in Texas on the eve of the Pacquiao-Cotto fight, the loss was not entirely his fault.
It?s no excuse, but it?s worthwhile to mention that he only had a three week notice for the fight. And, in all probability, was not nourished properly.
If we are going to find a fault for that, for sure all fingers should point to Michael Koncz, the Pacquiao assistant who is despised by so many in the Philippines leading Manny Pacquiao to ask government officials to provide him a couple of body guards.
While it is true that Manny Pacquiao is paying Koncz to help put up fights in many places like Mexico and Las Vegas, it is a well known fact that Koncz? business module is mainly beneficial to him than the boxers he is supposed to promote.
Incidentally, part of the reason why Koncz sets fights for the young Filipinos abroad is the inability of Manny Pacquiao Promotions to set up promotions in the Philippines where they could fight. But that story is for another day.
In a way that is beneficial to Koncz, because in the Philippines there are many eyes that could see what he is doing. In Mexico and other places, the Filipinos have no ways to keep him honest and he takes advantage of that.
Pacquiao gave Koncz the authority to work the fights abroad for a fee.
That is exactly what is happening.
Fights are being made and are fees being earned but by Koncz first and then the boxers later.
Case in point; Richie Mepranum
When Mepranum was in LA training under Buboy Fernandez, Buboy informed me that they are having serious problems. There was no constant budget for training expenses particularly for food. At times they have to spend their own money for groceries because Koncz who was supposed to provide the budget is too slow in doing so. And when he does, oftentimes it?s not enough. ?Tinitipid kami, e may pera naman?! ( He is penny pinching inspite of the availability of money), Buboy said.
Mepranum apparently was matched with Miranda by Koncz knowing that the kid was not totally ready.
The kid is very good but he needs proper training and nutrition to succeed. He did not get both.
But Koncz they said, went on with the match anyway. Why should he not? He stands to make money for himself either Mepranum wins or lose.
Don?t we call that ?feeding to the lions??
?He did care about the boxers? the people at the Palazzo said. ?He only cares about making cash for himself,? they added.
"How can he do that?" I asked.
?Well, he does and he does it without even blinking an eye,? a source said.
?And to prove my point, let me tell you this,? he informed this writer.
?Richie Mepranum went home teary-eyed after the fight not because he was knocked out but because he was not paid.?
Wow!
How can Michael Koncz allow our Filipino boxers ?be fed to the lions? and on top of that not paid for their services on time?
Something is awfully wrong in this scenario and Manny Pacquiao must be informed about these foolish incidents so he can take action himself.
Otherwise, there is a possibility that others may.
I wonder, did Koncz get paid for the Mepranum fight?
If I was to guess, I must say that in all probability, he did!
After all, as my source said, ?he is in bed with Zanfer Promotions.?
If you wonder about Rodel Mayol, stay tuned for the story.
I promise you it will be a bomshell as I am personally aware of the facts.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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