Koncz stays as Pacman adviser

MANILA, Philippines - Michael Koncz has doused cold water on rumors that he’d been kicked out of Manny Pacquiao’s inner circle.

The Canadian adviser to the Filipino boxing icon said he’s here to stay. Period.

“I just talked to Manny last Saturday and he gave me new instructions,” Koncz told The STAR yesterday morning from his home in Orange County in California.

 Koncz, who’s been around Pacquiao for a couple of years now, said he was surprised to read over the Internet yesterday he’d been fired.

“I wake up this morning and my cell phone was bombarded with text messages that I had been fired,” said Koncz, sounding more amused than upset.

 “I stay out for a while and I get fired,” he added, referring to reports that came out the other day saying he’s out of the loop.

Koncz had stayed on in the United States since Pacquiao crushed Shane Mosley last May. He said he was scheduled to fly to Manila the other day but was given new instructions by Pacquiao.

 “I’m here working out on some things for Manny,” he said.

Pacquiao was also quoted by noted sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielz as saying that the rumors were “a bunch of hooey.”

To make sure he’s not the last one to know he’d been fired, Koncz contacted Pacquiao yesterday.

“First I texted him asking if I could call. And he said yes, so I called. I asked him if there’s any truth to the reports and he said, ‘There’s none,’” said Koncz

 “I wanted to hear it straight from Manny. I know who was behind all these but I wouldn’t even mention his name,” he added.

Even Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, debunked the rumors, and said Koncz, who may not be the most popular guy within Team Pacquiao, is doing his job.

Arum referred to the unconfirmed reports as “bullsh_t.”

 “If some of these people who are after Michael came in to replace him it wouldn’t work,” Arum told Lem Satterfield of Fanhouse.

 “I want to make sure that Manny gets every penny that he’s entitled to, and the only way to make sure is to make sure that he has honest representation. Michael has demonstrated to me that he provides honest representation,” Arum said.