Michael Marley
4/27/2007
Michael: As I previously informed you I am not one to seek attention or be in the spotlight of the media. Hence, even though you graciously asked me for an interview in Texas to set some facts straight, I respectfully declined cause it is not about me. It’s about the fighters I work with and in this instance, Manny Pacquiao.
Nevertheless, I want to take this moment to thank you for the article you just wrote as its contents is very accurate. Manny in fact is at all times vigilant of his surroundings and the occurrences therein and often the people around him, who have their own agendas, are unaware of this and perhaps underestimate his intelligence.
Also, as you stated Manny is a calculating shrewd businessman and in fact negotiated well over $100,000.00 in savings relating to his training fees.
As to the unanswered question in you article of, "Is he Uncle Bob's bobo and cabana boy" the answer is quite simple.
My obligation is to advise Manny on what I believe is in his best interests. Simply put, my loyalty and trust is devoted / dedicated to Manny Pacquiao as, he is my boss and not Mr. Arum or anyone else as a matter of fact.
Michael again, thank you for trying to set some facts straight for the readers in your article.
However, truly what is most important to me is Manny's faith in my abilities and his trust in me regarding his personal matters and in the other four boxers including, Bernabe Concepcion, Manny and I co-manage together.
Therefore, I will not expend my valuable time defending myself against meritless accusations and self serving propaganda written by Ronnie the Filipino scribe who is like the wind with his loyalty and hence jumps side to side supporting people in his fictitious articles. (if you research his articles over the past three years you will see what I mean)
MICHAEL KONCZ
MM: I feel almost as though Bond, James Bond, has written to me. Since you did not mark thiis personal and confidential, Mike, I felt I could share this with the millions in Pacland. I observed you closely in San Antonio and, as I wrote, you always appeared to be “on point” as far as whgatever Manny Pacquaio had on his schedule. Having managed and co-managed world champions such as Terry and Orlin Norris, Robert Garcia and Shannon Briggs, I can appreciate the hard work and details that go into keeping a fighter on his daily routine. Your job ends when the bell for the opening bell rings and then resumes when Manny’s fight ends and it is time to get everybody homeward-bound. Your reference is,. I guess, to Ronnie Nathanielsz. I don’t really know this journalist.
What I really want to know, Mr. Koncz, is whether you vote in Canada or South Cotobato, LOL?
One other important question, is Dazzling Darlene Antonino-Custodio, Manny’s Congressional foe, single? If yes, get me those digits. Thanks, pal.
Dear Mr. Marley: You have it absolutely right. While I'm no insider, i've watched Manny's career, as so many others have over the past 6 yrs. with intense scrutiny. My conclusion is congruent with yours. It's a shame that based on his recent contractual entanglements, people make rash judgements about his cognitive capabilities. Many people have been quick to brand him as stupid because he signed two contracts, with GBP and TR respectively. One has to try to look at this from Manny's viewpoint however. Filipino culture tends to breed passive aggressive personalities. I don't mean this in a denigrating manner as i'm Filipino and see some of those traits in myself. We try to please everyone and find it hard to say no until a breaking point is reached ( and there can be many reasons for such ). Westerners may find this stupid or unreasonable however this is cultural and has context for Filipinos who feel that acting this way is being respectful and in the bayanihan spirit ( wikipedia that one please ). This acquiesence however, should never be taken as a lack of gray matter.
My understanding of what happened is that when Manny got to the States for his EM 3 date, he was met by Mr. Roach who took him to a restaurant where ODLH was waiting with a suitcase full of cash. There Manny was made to sign by OLDH a contract. The result was a signed contract. However, this contract it appears may have violated provisions in an active contract that Manny had with TR and be construed as tortuos ( tricky, deceitful) interference on the part of ODLH and GBP. This is why this is being adjudicated at this time. A question that I would posit though is why did ODLH try to pull this one off in a restaurant rather than in a more traditional manner with Manny having the benefit of licensed U.S. legal counsel. That this kind of transparency seems to have been lacking makes me just a little bit uneasy about Golden Boy's M.O.. This may also be the cause of what I now see as the inevitable divorce between Manny and Mr. Roach, certainly an undesirable consequence of this whole ordeal unless Mr. Roach makes clear who his loyalty belongs to MP or OLDH. And while Freddie is being paid by OLDH handsomely, his celebrity and pocketbook have certainly not been hurt by his association with Manny.
Manny's foray into politics is certainly foolish but that's just my opinion! While I believe he has altruistic motives, it will be very difficult to maintain his personal ethical integrity in that arena. This is more the indiscretion of youth rather than being intellectually challenged. However I could be wrong and he may just be the breath of fresh air that Philippine politics needs.
Finally, in spite of all that’s happened, Manny manages to move on knocking out a live opponent albeit a little lackluster ( imagine a lackluster knockout victory!), mount a credible political campaign where he has a good chance of winning and ends up not being a respondent in the current legal tiff between OLDH and Uncle Bob inspite of being the epicenter of this issue. Now,if that's not genius I don't know what is.
Sincerely yours,
CARLOS EZPELETA
MM: Great letter. You seem to really have your pulse on Mannymania and the whole wild and crazy scene. If Manny isn’t a sellout in the boxing world, and I mean a person who sell out, then I don’t see him becoming a political crook. What did Cus D’Amato say, someone who is born round does not die square.
Good grief. Why Scoop? That guy's a pain to read. I guess PBF bashing and Margarito boy-love brings traffic (and emails) .... Good luck.
MMANZANO.
MM: Loathe him if you will. Hate him if you must. But Scoop Malinowski is like Floyd Mayweather in one respect. They both hate haters. I see Scoop having a blind spot for Lennox Lewis but, so what? I still have one going back to age 11 on Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali. Malinowski is one of the best young scribes extant and he will stir it up here on www.boxingconfidential.com
You were expecting we’d go out and get some bland writers? And wait until Colonel Bob Sheridan gets rolling!
Housecat's sentimental pick is De La Hoya, but under oath I have to give the nod, and a big nod to Mayweather. I say let him have his "era" as the games' best for a while and then be done with his gangsta crap. Hopefully by then the boxing well will be repenished with some boxers that can not only fight but can conjugate the verb "to be" and maybe some other Western Civilization staples.
MATT 'THE HOUSECAT' STOLOW
MM: Ah, Housecat, I thought maybe you were in the breakdown lane halfway between San Antonio and Dallas. So I take it you don’t get any cultural uplift from Pretty Boy Floyd. What about Uncle Roger and Pretty Daddy?
Hi Mike. That is some hilarious stuff, these Mayweather guys are like some psycho ghetto-movin on up soap opera. I can’t read/hear enough of this for some reason, it’s just too funny. What a background for such a huge mega-fight. And of course the contrast in the other corner makes it even starker.
Gotta love it,
CHRIS
MM: Hey, Chris, got to agree that Floyd Sr. is a quote machine. He’s promised some exclsuiv e poetry for www.boxingconfidenjtal.com readers next week in Vegas. I can’t to see my old pal, Black Mamba Uncle Roger. I’m sure he will be ready to rip his brother up and down. Never a dull moment in the Mayweather clan. Only guy around who keeps his mouth shut is adviser Leonard Ellerbe. Btw, it’s not true that Leonard attended Spingarn HS inm DC with Elgin Baylor. They are not the same age.
You don't know what the hell you are talking about, idiot!
juncarpac@hotmail.com
MM: Thanks for the vote of confidence, oh gutless one who does not sign his or her name. Oh, I'm sorry, i see this one was addressed to Chef Boyardee aka Ricky Lois!
TO BOB MARLEY: The record speaks for itself, Bob.
I'm not saying MP is dumb.
Your article just cemented my belief that MP really cannot manage himself PROPERLY, what with all the controversies (legal and not) that have popped up during his reign. It was all his decisions. He's had the most managers in relatively such a short time and that shows he's a poor judge of qualifications.
If MP is for the unity of the Filipino people (which he succeeded in his Ledwaba fight til Morales), his moving into politics just divided the Filipino people. He has created for himself enemies in his choice of one faction over the other faction in politics. No politician has ever brought people together other than Hitler.
Now you've cleared it up that MP was behind it all.
But you are right, MP needs more respect from Paclanders than he's getting.
Respectfully,
Tony (telltales@hotmail.com)
MM: Ali used to say about 30-40 times per day to someone, ‘You’re not as dumb as you look.” Ali always meant it in fun. MP is not as dumb as he looks either. Like Ali, he thrives on confusion and dissension swirling all around him. I suppose maybe it is a welcome distraction from the daily training routine. Every night Manny can review who is backstabbing or frontstabbing who in his always-changing entourage. Maybe he finds that drama better “The Sopranos.” Btw, I am the Marley who shot the sheriff and not Nesta although a genealogoy research effort shows Bob Marley and I to be related, mon!
Hey Mike: Just so you know....I was promoted to the ranks of colonel, 3 December 1982, you'll understand this order: appointed as : aides-de-camp to the Governor and Commander-In-Chief hief....authority: section 14,chapter 23, General Laws of Massachusetts as amended....effective: 3 December 1982 by command, of the commander-in-chief: the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.....this order came out of the military division of the Adjutant General's office...and signed by, Major General Vahan Vartanian, major general of the Massachusetts Army National Guard......the order is on file for inspection at the armory of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company headquartered at Faneuil Hall
in Boston( I wish you'd publish this because a lot of assholes think I’m like Colonel Sanders)
COLONEL BOB SHERIDAN, ‘THE VOICE OF BOXING”
MM: Hey, Colonel, I always knew you were too legit to quirt. As far as the chicken Colonel, I would say that when you call a fight from a ringside your blow-by-blow is always finger-licking good. Often your call makes a not so great fight more exciting than it really is. Glad to have you aboard as our new columnist on boxing’s hottest news, opinion and analysis web site, www.boxingconfidential.com
See you in Vegas this week. I’m sure I will see you at a libation station in the MGM Grand so we can have a few adult bevies. Btw, should I leave the usual two fight tickets at will call for our mutual pal, Whitey B, from Southie? The IBF, I mean the FBI, has Whitey ranked Number One…
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
