Finkel advises Pacman to study career moves

Shelly Finkel said the other day he will always be available for advice to Manny Pacquiao as a friend and cautioned the boxing icon to carefully study his career moves because "no one on his team understands the contracts he signed."

Finkel referred to the contracts that Pacquiao recently signed with Golden Boy and Top Rank, rival promoters bidding for his rights.

The dispute over Pacquiao’s promotional rights will be settled in court even as Top Rank chairman Bob Arum announced last week he has come to terms with the fighter on a four-year deal.

Finkel’s contract to manage Pacquiao expires at the end of this month although a source said he agreed to pre-terminate the deal last August in exchange for a 20 percent share of the fighter’s $3-million purse for the third Erik Morales bout.

"I came into Manny’s life when his promoter (Murad Muhammad) had given away his choice of gloves and was being ripped off by his promoter and manager," Finkel told The Star.

"He was behind on taxes and was about to lose to Morales. I got him out of his contracts with Murad and (Rod) Nazario, paid his taxes, settled with (former manager) Marty Elorde and got him a central withholding agreement for his taxes and the right accountant. Since then, he is 4-0 with three KOs. In plain words, I turned his life around."

Finkel, a respected figure in boxing, said Pacquiao wouldn’t have been sucked into a contractual dispute if he only listened to his advice.

"If I was guiding his career as I should have been, he would not be in the mess he’s in," continued Finkel. "He really does not understand what is happening. The Golden Boy contract is better. Which do you think is shorter in Manny’s life — seven fights or four years? Show me a year when Manny has not fought at least twice."

Finkel insisted Golden Boy’s offer of a seven-fight package with no time frame is more advantageous to Pacquiao than Top Rank’s offer of a four-year deal stipulating two fights for Pacquiao and four for other fighters of his choice a year.

"I believe Golden Boy will win (in court)," said Finkel. "Arum says those are money damages. True but they are Manny’s damages and no one on Manny’s team is explaining that to Manny. If I was in charge, he would have signed nothing. If he signed one agreement, he would not have signed two. So now, he is back in trouble."

Finkel lashed out at Pacquiao’s advisers for taking advantage of the fighter.

"Where were all his advisers in 2005 when he lost and was in contract trouble?" wondered Finkel. "They sure weren’t with Manny and me in the hospital after he lost to Morales. They weren’t in court when we sued Murad and they weren’t with us getting him out of his tax problems."