Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer’s brief reaction to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s claims in an interview with Michael Marley of Boxing Confidential that Manny Pacquiao “did great” during the taking of his deposition on Thursday in Los Angeles, was not a pleasant one.
While Arum said Pacquiao “just told the truth” and added he was “really impressed”, Schaefer, in stark contrast claimed there were “lots of lies” and it was “very, very disappointing.” However, Schaefer expressed confidence that in the end “the truth will come out.”
Pacquiao's friend and confidant Rex "Wakee" Salud revealed that Pacquiao had been briefed by his lawyers and that Canadian adviser Michael Koncz was making sure that Pacquiao's deposition favored Arum. Koncz has long been suspected of being the eyes and ears of Arum in Team Pacquiao.
Arum whose famous line - I lied yesterday but today I am telling the truth - came to mind even as Schaefer indicated that he was “convinced” Golden Boy will win its lawsuit against Arum for “tortuous interference” for signing Pacquiao to a four-fight contract and giving him $1 million some two months after he had signed a seven-fight contract with Oscar De La Hoya and received $500,000.
Because of their confidence that they will win should the court case goes to trial, Schaefer indicated an out-of-court settlement “will be difficult” but promised he would be “open-minded.”
Under the legal system in California a retired judge seeks to try and bring both parties involved in a lawsuit together to reach a settlement without having to go to trial and Arum has been pushing for a settlement.
Despite the media hype over a Pacquiao’s desire to avenge the defeat of younger brother Bobby Pacquiao who was mauled by Humberto Soto before being knocked out in Madison Square Garden last Sunday and stories that big Vancouver businessman wanted a Pacquiao fight no matter who the opponent was and reports that Macau was also in the running, no announcements have been officially made about a site or an opponent.
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