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MANILA, Philippines – We might not get to see the two best Filipino boxers of this generation on the same card after all.
Manny Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Michael Koncz is trying to block Nonito Donaire Jr. from fighting on Pacquiao’s undercard on November 23 in Macau. In a recent interview with local veteran journalist Ronnie Nathanielsz, Koncz expressed his disinterest in putting a Macau card together with Donaire, citing that it doesn’t make sense business-wise.
Koncz raised his doubts in how Donaire can sell a single ticket that Pacquiao can’t sell, saying that it won’t bring a substantial Philippine audience. “Why will we spend $1 million in profits on a fight that’s not going to generate any actual additional income, if it does, it will be very little,” said Koncz. “It makes no business sense. We are co-promoters so we share in the expenses, we share in the profits.”
Bob Arum, who said after Donaire’s technical decision win over Simpiwe Vetyeka that he wanted to put him on the Pacquiao card, has changed his tune to having the “Filipino Flash” fight in the USA either in October or November.
This is not the first time that Koncz has been put under question for his dealings with Filipino fighters. In February of this year, General Santos native Ernie Sanchez was set to fight Diego Magdaleno in California in a Top Rank promoted event but was pulled out by Koncz. According to Sanchez’ manager, Brico Santig, Koncz wanted managerial rights over the Gen San pug.
Sanchez missed out on a $6,000 payday and has not fought since December.
Donaire’s wife Rachel Donaire had taken her concerns to Facebook and Twitter page on February 15, saying that Koncz prevented Donaire from fighting on one of Pacquiao’s undercards in 2011. Rachel also lambasted the Canadian for “pulling out fighters who he isn’t personally collecting money from.”
JM Siasat is a sports journalist based in Manila, Philippines. He can be reached at jmsiasat@ymail.com. Follow him on Twitter @jmsiasat
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