Members of the Manny Pacquiao’s team were caught attacking a photographer shortly after the Filipino fighter’s loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last Sunday.
Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez were photographed trying to get a hold of Getty Images photographer Al Bello moments after the Filipino fighter was knocked out in the sixth round of the bout.
The Team Pacquiao members were allegedly trying to prevent Bello from taking photos of a knocked out Pacquiao.
“Had I not gotten off the ring, I have no doubt the two of them would have beaten the [expletive] out of me and I might have been seriously hurt,” Bello told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports.
The Canadian Koncz texted his response to Yahoo!, saying the incident was “Not an assault, just a miss understanding (sic) in the heat of the moment.”
According to Bello, Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach had asked him not to shoot the photos, triggering Koncz and Fernandez’s reaction. Roach later apologized, said the photographer.
The Nevada Athletic Commission said it would review the incident.
Koncz is involved in various roles for Pacquiao, acting as one of his business managers.
Fernandez is a childhood friend of the fighter from General Santos City, and serves as Roach’s right-hand man during trainings and in the corner during fights.
source: interaksyon.com
