STREET LIFE

“MANNY PACQUIAO has broken free from the legal stranglehold of US promoter Murad Muhammad after the American sought an out-of-court settlement early Tuesday afternoon (yesterday morning in Manila) and agreed to pay the Filipino boxing star an undisclosed amount in exchange for dropping a $33 million lawsuit.” – From the wires

Although Pacquiao refused to divulge the amount of the settlement but it could be in the millions of dollars making him partially recover what he believed were lost income due to demanding transactions entered into by Muhammad without his knowledge.

"I won by technical knockout (TKO)," Pacquiao said yesterday upon his arrival in Los Angeles from New York where the trial was set.

The court ordered Muhammad, who heads the promotional outfit M&M Sports in New Jersey, to pay the out-of-court settlement as well as the legal fees for Pacquiao’s battery of lawyers headed by Judd Burstein who signed in for a minimum $100,000 (R5.5 million) to take the case.

"Deep in my heart, I knew that it was going to be a tough fight," said Pacquiao in Filipino. "But I was confident that truth shall prevail. And it did."

Pacquiao said as soon he arrives in Manila, he will meet with Rod Nazario, who he has accused of earning more than what he should earn the past four years.

The Pacman discovered that Mr. Nazario earned more than what he is supposed to earn. He found this out from the documents that are in the possession of his lawyers according to Pacquiao, who was joined in the flight back to Los Angeles from the Big Apple by his wife Jinkee.

Pacquiao said they have 12 boxes of evidence proving that Muhammad has been conspiring with Nazario the last few years in what his handlers termed as "sweetheart deals."

Nazario strongly denied the accusation when told about Pacquiao’s statements, saying he has enough evidence to prove otherwise.

"I am more than ready to present documents proving that’s not true," said Nazario, who took under his wings a young and raw Pacquiao in 1995 when the General Santos City native turned professional

"As soon as he arrives he should see me and I will show everything to him," Nazario said.

Muhammad, who acquired promotion rights on Pacquiao in mid-2001, the year the Filipino puncher debuted on American soil, wished his former fighter well in his future dealings.

"Life must go on and I wish him well. May God be with him," said Muhammad.

Pacquiao was forced to file a lawsuit against Muhammad following his 12-round loss to Erik Morales last March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao said Muhammad had been shortchanging him by not divulging the exact amount of purse of his fights against Agapito Sanchez, Jorge Julio, Emmanuel Lucero, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

This is the moment for the Pacman to focus his effort for the next fight . . . surely it will be a hell of a TKO!