Pacquiao happy and sad

Five days after the settlement of the highly publicized court case he filed against his estranged American promoter Murad Muhammad, a mixture of feelings dwelt in Manny Pacquiao's heart.

Pacquiao said he is both happy and sad after he agreed on an out-of-court settlement with Murad regarding the landmark $33 million suit he lodged against the loud-mouthed American boxingman in New York last April. That freed Pacquiao from Murad's air-tight promotional grip.

Pacquiao said he is happy because he can now focus on his boxing career, but sad at the same time because of the painful reality that the people whom he trusted most shortchanged him and stole his money.

"I'm very happy, but very sad, too. I'm sad because somebody I trusted stole my money. But I'm happy because now I can just think of boxing," the 27-year-old Pacquiao told Kevin Iole of Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The Filipino ring star has sued Murad and former manager Rod Nazario of fraud. A testimony in the case alleged that Nazario conspired with Muhammad to steal money from Pacquiao's purses and failed to pay his taxes in his US fights.

New York federal judge Loretta Preska has ordered for a speedy trial of the case starting last June 20.

The case, however, has ended without going to the jury after the two parties agreed on an out-of-court settlement. Murad reportedly paid Team Pacquiao $8 million for that matter.

Lawyer Nick Khan, who is part of Pacquiao's new management team, said five of the eight jurors told him that they would haved ruled in favor of Pacquiao if not for an out-of-court settlement.

Finkel Underwent Surgery

Shelly Finkel, one of boxing's most prominent managers who is now actively involved in charting Pacquiao's future, underwent prostate cancer surgery in New York last Thursday (Friday RP time).

Finkel said he's feeling better and that doctors believe they got all the cancer.

"I'm pleased, because everything sounds positive," said Finkel, who is eyeing a non-title fight for Pacquiao either on September 10 or 17 in preparation for a rematch with Mexican star Erik Morales in December.

Burstein on Sports Radio

Tonight's edition of 'Sports Chat' will feature an interview with Atty. Judd Burstein, the high-profile lawyer of Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao who led the latter's battery of lawyers in pinning down controversial promote Murad Muhammad in a recent New York jury trial.

In an overseas telephone interview recently, Burstein discussed his views on the alleged culpability of business manager Rod Nazario to the sport of boxing as well as the lawyer's opinion in Pacquiao's future legal battles.

'Sports Chat', hosted by IBC-13 newscaster Dennis Principe, is heard every Tuesday from 7 pm to 9 pm over DZSR Sports Radio 918 kHz.