WAKEE SALUD: I'M NOT TAKING SIDE ON PACQUIAO'S CONTRACTUAL DISPUTE
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 20 Dec 2006
Noted Cebuano promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud quashed away rumors that he is jumping ship from Bob Arum's Top Rank Incorporated to Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions regarding his preference as Manny Pacquiao's promoter and that he is not taking side
with any of the contending promotional outfits.
"I'm not taking side in this particular issue. There are now two cases pending before the courts in the United States. I won't make any comment on this matter anymore for the reason that I might be cited for contempt," said Salud.
"Let's leave it up to the courts to decide which promoter Pacquiao will tie up," Salud added.
Speculations of Salud's shifting allegiance to Golden Boy were further fanned when Salud brought Pacquiao's topnotch trainer Freddie Roach for a two-night, one-day visit in Cebu.
Salud is identified with Arum's group, while Roach had been very vocal on his choice for Golden Boy as promoter of Pacman.
Things, however, dramatically changed when Salud, in a report by popular boxing website philiboxing.com, got mad with American agent Michael Koncz for "unceremoniously excluding him from the group who went up with Pacquiao on the ring prior to his rubbermatch with Erik Morales last November 18."
"Wakee felt slighted that Koncz was trying to make him keep a low-profile. Wakee said he has extended so much help to Koncz, and this is he got in return," the same report said.
During the christening of Pacquiao's only daugher, Mary Divine Grace, last Sunday in General Santos City, Salud and Roach met as they were among the VIP guests of the multi-million party that also coincided with Pacman's 28th birthday and the blessing of his P40-million mansion.
Salud cordially invited Roach to drop by the Queen City of the South first before going to the States. The amiable American ring tactician obliged on Salud's request.
Roach, together with his best friend Billy Kenne and Pacquiao's Fil-Am advisor Joe Ramos, arrived at 6:50 pm last night at the Mactan International Airport. They were fetched by Salud, who then whisked them away to Waterfront Cebu City Hotel before throwing a sumptuous dinner for Roach as well as some members of the media and Paclanders at Ching's Palace.
Also in attendance were international promoter Sammy Gello-ani, ALA Boxing Gym chief trainer Edito "ALA" Villamor and Boholano ring phenomenon Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista.
Gello-ani is associated with Golden Promotions, thus, watering the grapevine that Salud is now taking side with the De la Hoya-owned outfit, leaving Koncz alone to bear the tedious task of delivering Pacquiao to Arum's company.
But Salud denied all these rumors saying that he won't make any comment unless the legal dispute between Top Rank and Golden Boy for the promotional rights of Pacquiao will be settled by the court.
"It is not true, purely a speculation. I won't make any statement until the case is resolved by the courts," Salud said.
Today, Salud was very busy touring Roach and his entourage to some of the tourist spots in Cebu. After taking a glimpse of the picturesque Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, they went to the famous SUTUKIL Restaurant in Mactan Island where they feasted on a mouth-watering lunch of seafood dishes.
The group then proceeded to Shangri-la Hotel also in Mactan for another sight-seeing before going to the state-of-the-art ALA Boxing Gym in Nasipit, Talamban where Roach held a brief workout with Boom Boom Bautista.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel B. Villaruel.
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