Top Rank chief publicist Lee Samuels denies Koncz dismissal
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Jul 2011
Everytime fellow Philboxing.com columnist Manny Pinol writes, I read. And so should you.
A former sportswriter turned North Cotabato Governor, Pinol pens the Braveheart columns in this website. His literary installments are not only well-crafted and deliberately thorough, it is also juicy, given the fact that as a boxing stable owner and promoter himself, Pinol has numerous unimpeachable sources within the fistic industry.
Pinol wrote a column early today that set the Internet on fire. Entitled "Ax falls on Pacquiao advisor," Pinol, citing "very reliabe sources from Cebu City," reported that Filipino megastar Manny Paquiao has "dismissed" Michael Koncz, the controversial adviser/spokesman to the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.
The news was greeted with glee and jubilation among thousands of Pacquiao fans, who have a shared disdain toward Koncz, a Canadian ex-lawyer employed by Pacquiao since 2005.
But Top Rank chief publicist Lee Samuels believes it isn't so.
"We received over 50 calls today asking about the story, Kevin Iole called, Dan Rafeal called. The story isn't true," the affable Samuels told me over the phone a little over an hour ago (4:50 pm Monday and 5:50 am Tuesday RP Time).
Contrary to reports, Samuels clarified that Koncz doesn't work for Top Rank. But he did acknowledge that Koncz is indeed a valuable asset "who untangles a lot a lot of problems" that a global icon such as Manny runs into from time to time.
"Manny is so huge now, like Muhammad Ali," Samuels quipped. "He can't do it alone."
Samuels said he spoke to Koncz, who spoke to Pacquiao twice just a couple hours ago. And by all indications, there seems to be no problem. Manny told Koncz, "you're fine, you're working for me," Samuels added.
And just like that, Koncz's obituaries, which have been posted and incessantly written about in nasty terms on the not so solemn pages of various internet sites appear to be both premature and extremely exaggerated.
As for Pinol, some readers might say he jumped the gun and that he is a tainted source, who let his bitter past with Koncz get in the way of objective writing.
I sternly disagree on both counts.
Firstly, when a source he deemed credible fed him a newsworthy morsel such as Koncz getting the boot, Pinol had little choice. What was he supposed to do? Sit on a story that was as explosive and riveting as this one was? That would have been the unforgivable blunder.
Secondly, Pinol had already in the past fully disclosed his misgivings towards Koncz. And that reflects honestly on the part of the ex-governor.
Besides, I implicitly trust Pinol's skill to compartmentalize, in his intelligence, and his ability to set aside personal issues when it comes to writing his precious columns.
Pinol was not the first to be burned by an apparently errant source. He won't be the last, either.
And so for now, Koncz is still in. Rumors are out. (Homer D. Sayson)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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