Where there's smoke there's fire; and 'Camp Pacquiao' is smoking -- Examiner

By Rick Rockwell, Examiner.com

The latest news coming out of Camp Pacquiao is not all warm and fuzzy as it was just a few weeks ago when Manny Pacquiao won his congressional seat. There is a division brewing over recent comments made by certain members of Pacquiao's management team. Comments that have not only angered promoter Bob Arum but have also angered the pound for pound king.

"I know Manny is just as angry as I am that these guys, who have nothing to do with any of these negotiations, keep shooting their mouths off and inflaming the situation,” Bob Arum, Boxingscene.com

Arum is referring to the following comments recently made by Eric Pineda and Franklin Gacal.

"We just got word that it seems to be that way. But we will never agree to that." Gacal, Philstar.com

"Yes, we were told that Floyd now wants a bigger share. And if that’s the case, we now feel that he really doesn’t want to fight Manny because Floyd knows we will never agree on that." Pineda, Philstar.com

Pineda and Gacal's statements were in response to Floyd Mayweather Jr's demands of wanting a larger percentage of the fight purse.

"They (statements) are more than irritating, because so much of this is ego and when you say that if he (Mayweather) says this Manny Pacquiao is not going to fight, that’s not the way you negotiate," Arum Boxingscene.com

What I don't understand is why Bob Arum is so frustrated over things. He's the one who originally said that he would keep his mouth shut over things and then a few days later he's telling the world that Floyd Mayweather Jr and Shane Mosley last blood tested 18-19 days out from the fight. These comments caused a frenzy which led me to obtaining a copy of the drug testing summary directly from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Now, Bob is frustrated over others who are expressing their opinions just like Bob has done so many times before. If Bob wants a gag order on everyone who's a part of team Pacquiao, then he should start with himself first. But, Pineda and Gacal aren't the only ones outside of Arum who have been making comments. Manny Pacquiao has also been pretty vocal over these negotiations too. Which, members of the media like myself, think is a good thing.

There's no possible way that these negotiations are going to remain private. In fact, I think Team Pacquiao should make them as public as possible to show the public that they are willing to compromise and make the fight happen. That would put more pressure on Team Mayweather. Instead, we are getting divisiveness and in-house fighting. I'm surprised to see this coming from them because usually it's a much more well oiled machine.

There's smoke in 'Camp Pacquiao' and they better be careful before things go up in a blaze of divisiveness and blame.

Source: examiner.com