Pacman to cut ties with Finkel team

There’s a shake-up shaping up within Team Pacquiao.

According to internet reports that came out over the weekend, Manny Pacquiao is all set to cut his ties with his American management team of Shelly Finkel, Nick Khan and Keith Davidson.

Dan Rafael, the embedded boxing writer from ESPN, wrote that when Pacquiao fights Erik Morales on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas, it would be the Filipino fighter’s last under Finkel’s group.

Finkel has stood as Pacquiao’s manager since early 2005 while Khan and Davidson are two young, brilliant lawyers who have helped the 27-year-old boxer with his legal woes.

Finkel, Khan and Davidson, Rafael further wrote, "helped extricate Pacquiao from his promotional contract with Murad Muhammad, whom Pacquiao accused of stealing millions from his earnings."

Muhammad was brought to court, but the flashy, sweet-talking promoter lured Pacquiao into an off-court settlement. The Filipino was reportedly paid an undisclosed sum to drop the case.

Finkel and company were also instrumental in landing Pacquiao huge fight contracts, including a $2 million paycheck for his rematch with Morales last January, and a $3 million take in November.

Their contract with Pacquiao expires in January, and Finkel, according to Rafael, will "grant Pacquiao his immediate release" after the third and decisive fight with Morales. — Abac Cordero