GOLDEN BOY SUES ARUM; SALUD, KONCZ, GACAL NEXT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 23 Nov 2006
Golden Boy Promotions has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Top Ran Promotions headed by Bob Arum for ?tortuous intereference? with Golden Boy?s ?existing, fully negotiated and executed promotional agreement with Manny Pacquiao.?
Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez issued the statement to Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today after lengthy, closed-door discussions on a course of action after Arum announced that he had signed a four-year deal with Pacquiao?s MP Promotions and would continue to promote his fights beginning with a planned March or April fight possibly against undefeated Edwin Valero at the Wynn Hotel & Casino in Macau.
In his statement Gomez said Pacquiao?s attorney Franklin ?Jing? Gacal ?negotiated, reviewed, initialed and signed the agreement together with Manny.? He said Golden Boy believes that Pacquiao ?has been ill-advised to enter into another agreement.? Gomez said they believe further that Manny?s advisers Michael Koncz and Rex ?Wakee? Salud and his attorney were ?conspiring against Golden Boy and induced Manny to breach his agreement.? Gomez said that as a result follow-up lawsuits against the three are ?currently being prepared and will be filed shortly.?
Gomez said they are hopeful that Pacquiao will realize that he has ?surrounded himself with individuals who clearly do not have his best interests at heart and we have come to the conclusion that the right thing to do is to honor the agreement he has entered into with Golden Boy Promotions.? Gomez said the organization headed by Oscar De La Hoya was proud to have Pacquiao as part of its team and is looking forward to bring him the ?best, biggest and most lucrative fights going forward.? Gomez said De La Hoya would be pleased sit down ?man to man and fighter to fighter? with Pacquiao and put this ?unproductive and unnecessary situation behind us and discuss with Manny his next fight.?
Earlier Pacquiao hired a private attorney to help sort out the legal complications of the two contracts he signed, first with Oscar De La Hoy?s Golden Boy Promotions and then with Bob Arum?s Top Rank. In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Los Angeles based boxing agent Michael Koncz identified the lawyer as William Coulthard of the law firm Harrison, Kemp & Jones in Las Vegas. Koncz said Pacquiao followed his advice and hired Coulthard, a lawyer who ?has nothing to do with Manny?s career.? Koncz claimed he made the suggestion? because everybody was pulling from every direction? in Team Pacquiao.
Coulthard has told members of Pacquiao?s entourage ?not to make any comment on issues relating to any contract or on any situation until it is resolved whether formally or informally? following reports that Golden Boy Promotions was set to take legal action against Bob Arum and planned to include Koncz and Pacquiao?s friend and confidant Rex ?Wakee? Salud in the suit.
Both Koncz and Salud expressed surprise over the reports. Koncz said he had ?no idea how it came about? while Salud in a conversation with Manila Standard Today shortly after his arrival in Los Angeles from Las Vegas said ?why will they include me?? At the same time Salud hinted that the information about his being included in a court suit by Golden Boy was leaked by trainer Freddie Roach who he accused of ?doing the work to get Manny to sign with Golden Boy? which is the same allegation being leveled against Salud and Koncz in connection with the four-year promotional contract entered into by Manny Pacquiao Promotions and Top Rank.
Roach who spoke to Viva Sports/Manila Standard earlier yesterday said the contractual situation was ?a little bit messy? while Shelly Finkel, the head of Pacquiao?s management team said ?it would not have been such a mess? if he had been consulted. Roach also disclosed that he was coming to the Philippines for Pacquiao?s birthday on December 17.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer in a statement emailed to Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today said Golden Boy has ?a valid promotional deal with Manny Pacquiao and we intend to enforce that contract. Manny had signed that contract in the presence of his attorney (Franklin ?Jing? Gacal). The contract was negotiated by his attorney and by Manny and Manny accepted the sign on bonus.?
Schaefer went on, ?we believe that Manny has been misguided by certain members of his team and that he will ultimately realize that our contract is valid and offers him the best opportunities to further his career. All of us at Golden Boy Promotions are proud of Manny and are looking forward to working with him on his next seven fights.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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