Koncz assures Pacquiao still motivated to fight

Just because he has announced his retirement doesn’t mean Manny Pacquiao is no longer motivated to win in his farewell fight.

On the contrary, his adviser Michael Koncz said Pacquiao is already raring to go back to training to ensure a memorable final fight against Timothy Bradley on April 9.

“He told me that when he gets back from the press tour, he will begin training,” Koncz told Boxing Scene after his heart-to-heart talk with the fighting congressman.

The Canadian adviser wanted to check if Pacquiao still has in his heart to slug it out for 12 more rounds even as the Filipino boxer prepares to run for senator this May.

But Pacquiao assured him that he would be practically distraction-free when he starts training after the press tour in the US.


“I think that he will be going to the gym before the end of the month,” said Koncz.

Pacquiao will split his training camp between the Philippines and Los Angeles. The Bradley fight is supposedly his last before focusing on politics full time.

"He's always given us everything that he's ever had," Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum said of Pacquiao at a press conference in Los Angeles. "If this is truly the last time, Manny, it's been a great ride, and I want to thank you for everything."

Pacquiao, for his part, said he is happy with his decision to retire.

"I've been boxing more than 20 years, and I think it's enough for me," he said. "After this fight, I'm going to hang up my gloves and focus on my countrymen, to help the people."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Manny Pacquiao named Asia Game Changer of the year

NEW YORK CITY – For using his sport and his celebrity power as a positive influence, Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was honored with the 2015 Asia Game Changer of the Year award in New York City Tuesday night.

"I'm really thankful and happy because of this award na binigay sa akin," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao's Adviser Michael Koncz said, "He's got a lot of pride accepting that award. It's good for him. It's good for the country. It's good for all Filipinos."

The award-giving body, Asia Society, said honorees were selected through a survey of more than 1,000 global leaders who inspire the world to do things differently.

Last year, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, the businessman behind Alibaba, received the Asia Game Changer of the Year award.

Just like Pacquiao, Ma was chosen for his humanitarian and charitable works.

Other past awardees include Malala Yousafzai, the female rights activist from Pakistan, and Filipino social entrepreneur Illac Diaz, for his Liter of Light program.

While at the Asia Society, Pacquiao had a few minutes to see the Philippine Gold exhibit at the Asia Society Museum.

Pacquiao, who is launching a senatorial bid soon, said he has only one thing in mind.

"Pagbabago, reduce the poverty, and also reduce the crime," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao is flying back to the Philippines on Wednesday to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the senatorial post.

Read more on Balitang America.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Floyd hits Top Rank, Koncz for 'treatment' of Pacquiao

American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. criticized Top Rank Promotions and Michael Koncz, claiming that they have been mistreating his rival, Filipino icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.

Mayweather, who is set to face off against Pacquiao on May 2 in the so-called "Fight of the Century," shed some more light on their chance meeting in Miami that helped make the bout happen.

Pacquiao and Mayweather famously met at a game between the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks, talked at halftime, and exchanged numbers. The American later talked to the "Pacman" in his hotel room to clear the air about the fight.

"When Michael Koncz came over to me and said Manny wanted to take a picture with me, I said, 'No, I don't want to take a picture with (Manny) because you're a liar'," Mayweather said, as quoted by Boxing Scene.

The boxer further accused Koncz of lying "years ago," saying Pacquiao's adviser told him that he was in control.

"You (Koncz) gave me your phone number and said all I had to do was call you to make the fight happened. You said (Top Rank chief executive) Bob (Arum) was not in control. You told me," Mayweather said, explaining his conversation with Koncz.

"Then I said, 'you told me and you said you were a man of your word and haven't been a man of your word, so no, I'm not taking your picture with Manny Pacquiao. That's a no-go'," he added.

Mayweather said he told Pacquiao that Arum has been lying to him and to the media.

"(I told Pacquiao), if you take random blood and urine testing and it's on an even playing field, we can make the fight happen. I told him I don't want Michael Koncz's number. I've got Michael Koncz's number – he's full of sh*t," Mayweather said.

Mayweather further told Pacquiao that Koncz "don't work for you." "He don't care about your well-being. I know what happens behind the scenes in the sport of boxing," he said.

"On Saturday, you will see the difference in the paydays," he guaranteed.

The unbeaten boxer said he does not think Pacquiao is being treated well by Arum, and points to the hotel that he was staying in Miami as evidence.

"I don't know why they had him staying at that type of hotel," he said. "Like I said before – the treatment. It wasn't right."

"I'm not here to put the hotel on blast, but it wasn't right. Financially, I don't think Top Rank treated him right for this fight," he added.

Mayweather used to be promoted by Arum and Top Rank before an ill-tempered split in 2006 that saw the American take control of his own career. He has since been working with boxing manager Al Haymon, whom he credits with helping him become the highest-paid athlete in the world.

Mayweather believes that if Pacquiao had been working with Haymon instead of Top Rank, then he would be even richer.

"I told him that I'm surprised that he's not working with Al Haymon. If he was working with us directly, I think he would have made a lot more money," said the American boxer. "He would have really made $100 million, if he would have worked with us."

Arum refused to get into a war of words with Mayweather.

"Floyd should mind his own business," he told Boxing Scene in a separate interview. "I'm not going to reduce this to a dialogue, one way or another, with Floyd."

"You saw at the press conference with Pacquiao today, there wasn't one bad thing said about Mayweather. We're not going to say one bad thing about Mayweather," he added.

"We're not going to answer him back and so forth. He's the master of trash talking. He's not going to upset Manny Pacquiao. I'm not going to respond to him."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao, Mayweather camps at odds over doping penalty

LOS ANGELES - Tension appeared to be rising around the long awaited welterweight world title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, with the fighters' camps reportedly at odds over a proposed doping penalty.

Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that he was "a little puzzled and dismayed" that Mayweather wouldn't agree to the $5 million penalty Pacquiao had proposed should either fighter test positive for a banned drug.

Mayweather Promotions chief executive Leonard Ellerbe, however, told the newspaper that the drug testing protocol for the May 2 fight in Las Vegas had been "rigorously negotiated" by Pacquiao promoters Top Rank.

In comments to ESPN.com, Ellerbe called Koncz an "idiot."

"If this moron didn't convey his fighter's wishes when the negotiation was going on that's their problem," Ellerbe said. "This is a lame-ass attempt to generate publicity."

Drug testing was an issue in attempts to put a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight together in late 2009 and early 2010.

Mayweather wanted random Olympic-style blood and urine testing, but Pacquiao objected to some of the protocols and the deal disintegrated.

Mayweather later accused the Filipino ring icon of using performance-enhancing drugs, a charge which Pacquiao denied.

Pacquiao sued Mayweather over the accusation and the two settled out of court.

Drug-testing differences have been just part of the long and winding road to the May 2 match-up between the two fighters widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighters of their generation.

The bout has required rival telecasters Showtime and HBO to work together to produce a fight considered a lock to break all records for pay-per-view viewers and revenue.

Pacquiao, a two-term Congressman from Sarangani province in the Philippines, is 57-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts while Mayweather is 47-0 with 26 knockouts.

Last week, the US Anti-Doping Agency said both fighters had agreed to undergo Olympic-style random drug testing prior to the bout.

Mayweather has submitted to USADA testing for all of his bouts since 2010.

Both fighters must provide USADA with their whereabouts and make themselves available for blood and urine tests for drugs including human growth hormone (HGH) and the blood-boosting erythropoietin (EPO).

Pacquiao first suggested the reciprocal fine for a failed drug test as extra insurance that a doping issue wouldn't scupper the fight that fans worldwide have clamored for.

But Ellerbe charged the arrangement was an attempt to "put a $5 million price tag if Manny tested positive."

"It will cost Manny a lot more than some $5 million if he comes up positive," Ellerbe said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

What Pacquiao, Floyd talked about in hotel room

MANILA, Philippines – It seems the highly anticipated mega fight between superstar boxers Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will finally come to fruition after the two rivals finally met at an NBA game.

Pacquiao and Mayweather had a brief chat at halftime of the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat, and the "Pacman" later said they exchanged phone numbers.

It was later revealed that Mayweather also visited the Filipino star in his hotel suite in Miami where the two supposedly discussed the details of their long-awaited showdown.

Speaking to Rick Reeno and Steve Kim of Boxing Scene, Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, provided some details of the meeting.

"(Mayweather) was very pleasant, very professional," Koncz said. "He indicated he was very eager to make the fight, which I believe, as of last night, he is."

"Whether or not that's the same tomorrow, I don't know," he added.

Koncz told Boxing Scene that Mayweather was most concerned about the issue of who will broadcast a fight, as the American has an exclusive deal with Showtime/CBS, while Pacquiao works with HBO and Time Warner.

"Manny and I both told him, 'If those are the only issues, those are simple and we can have those fixed in the morning,'" Koncz said. "And in fact, I've confirmed that they've been resolved."

Koncz revealed that Mayweather also connected Pacquiao to Showtime Sports boss Stephen Espinoza, who briefly talked with the "Pacman."

"Floyd put (Espinoza) on the phone with us. I told Floyd, and Manny agreed, if those are the only issues, then no problem, we can take care of it," Koncz said.

Koncz said that upon Pacquiao's instruction, he then called Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum, who had his own discussions with HBO chief executive Richard Plepler and CBS chief executive Les Moonves.

"Those issues are resolved now," said Koncz.

Arum, in a separate Boxing Scene report, said signs are pointing towards the fight happening, but warned that nothing is set in stone yet.

"I cannot assure you that it is going to happen, but certainly, with this development in Miami and from what I know about the finalization of papers and everything, I have to be optimistic," he said.

"And I know that everybody that I deal with, like Les Moonves of CBS and HBO's Richard Plepler, are all very positive of making this happen," he added.

Arum also told Boxing Scene that the broadcast issues between Showtime and HBO "were solved two weeks ago."

"I think everything is positive, and hopefully, if everything keeps going well, we'll get it wrapped up by the end of the week," he said.

Pacquiao and Mayweather's meeting in Miami happened purely by chance as the Filipino boxer's flight back to the Philippines was delayed due to a winter storm and he decided to watch the Heat game instead.

It was the first time that Pacquiao and Mayweather have ever met in person.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao camp sets deadline for Floyd

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Manny Pacquiao has already set a deadline for the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. to seal the deal on the mega-fight boxing fans are waiting for.

According to Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz, they want to closer the deal by the end of January.

Pacquiao has already gave a counter-offer and are still waiting for the American’s response.

“We're waiting for word from Floyd. The issue is very sensitive. We're giving this until the end of the month,” he said in Boxing Scene.

So far, the eight-division champion has already agreed to some of the demands brought up by Mayweather, including the May 2 fight date that could affect the planned Cinco de Mayo weekend bout between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao has said the date won’t be an issue for him, so long as the elusive Mayweather signs the contract.

The Filipino has also agreed to take a lower cut in the fight expected to generate at $200 million to $300 million in revenues.

"Importante lang, kailangan muna matuloy," stressed Pacquiao, adding that he has no idea of where the venue for the bout will be as well.

Boxing promoter Bob Arum, who has been working out the fight with CBS' Les Moonves, admitted that the negotiations are proceeding at a slow pace.

"The talks are slow, but at least there is movement," Arum told veteran fight scribe Ronnie Nathanielsz, adding that he remains unsure if a deal will be reached.

"Until a deal is made and contracts signed, we'll never know," the veteran boxing promoter said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

I'm not a sparring partner, Rios warns Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Hard-hitting brawler Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios was glad to hear that his November 24 opponent, Filipino legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, has been looking sharp in sparring during his training camp.

“That’s good,” Rios told Hustle Boss. “That means we got a fight going on. If he looks good and if he looks great against his sparring partners, that’s good. That means we got a fight going on.”

That being said, Rios warns Pacquiao – as well as the Filipino’s adviser, Michael Koncz – that he is far from being a sparring partner.

“There’s one thing I’ve got tell him and Michael – he’s the one who’s talking sh*t,” said Rios. “I ain’t no sparring partner. You can look great against sparring partners. But you’re not going to fight a sparring partner.”

“You’re fighting me. And I ain’t no sparring partner,” he declared.

Rios has also heard the comment of Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, who said that he was only concerned about one man in the Rios camp – veteran trainer Eduardo Garcia, the father of Robert Garcia.

“He should be worried about him,” Rios agreed. “But not only him. He should be worried about me. Pacquiao is fighting me, and he’s not fighting no (expletive) joke.”

Rios said he knows that many critics believe h is a “pushover,” and that he will be a “tune-up fight” for Pacquiao.

“I ain’t nobody’s tune-up fight, and if Freddie Roach thinks that, he’s got something else coming to him,” Rios said. “I’m going to show the world. I don’t know what else to say. I’m going to show the world and I’m going to show Freddie Roach that I’m no tune-up fight.”

As he is fighting one of the best boxers in the world pound-for-pound, Rios knows he will need a good game plan and is confident that his trainer, Robert Garcia, can come up with the perfect tactic.

“Robert has a good game plan. His dad (Eduardo) has a great game plan. I’ve been following it in the gym and executing the game plan very well,” he said. “We’ll be ready.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com