There is also a marked difference in the people Mayweather and Pacquiao turn to for advice. Mayweather has secretive power broker Al Haymon guiding his career and ubiquitous right-hand man Leonard Ellerbe at his side. Furthermore, according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, Mayweather is intimately involved in all aspects of his business dealings.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is advised by Michael Koncz, a shadowy figure who has feuded with other members of Manny’s entourage, including trainer Freddie Roach, who once said, “The worst mistake in my life was when I introduced Michael Koncz to Manny Pacquiao.”
Some have wondered why Pacquiao didn’t jump ship and follow Mayweather to Golden Boy. After all, it would have made it a lot easier to negotiate a fight with his American archrival.
Contractual obligations were part of the reason he stuck with Top Rank, and then there are those pesky advances to repay. Actually, Pacquiao could have had an opportunity to leave Top Rank when their contract expired at the end of 2013, but he has already signed an extension that will keep him in the fold throughout 2014. Veteran Philippines journalist Ronnie Nathanielsz thinks he knows why.
“He always gets advances before his fights and is therefore, in a sense, beholden to Bob Arum. However, I don’t believe he owes Arum a large sum of money,” Nathanielsz said. “Manny has the fundamental Filipino mentality of gratitude, and as far as I know, he is grateful to Arum for his successful career and in building his image as a crossover star.”