Manny like a son to new promoter

Manny Pacquiao was treated to a sumptuous dinner by his new promoter Gary Shaw at Los Angeles’ top steak restaurant the other night and it looks like they hit it off.

Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills was where Pacquiao, Shaw and lawyer Keith Davidson met to toast their coalition.

"Shaw is a nice fellow, very warm and (the) exact opposite of Murad (Muhammad)," said Pacquiao’s confidante Clem Asencio who was also at the dinner. "Keith is positive about Gary who told Manny he’ll take care of him like his own son."

Shaw, 59, completes Pacquiao’s new support team in the US. He is known to enjoy the confidence of Pacquiao’s manager Shelly Finkel, trainer Freddie Roach and lawyer Judd Burstein.

Aside from Pacquiao, Shaw promotes International Boxing Federation (IBF) supermiddleweight champion Jeff Lacy and World Boxing Council lightweight titlist Diego Corrales. Shaw has been involved in several box- office hits like Lewis-Tyson, Trinidad-Vargas, Mosley-Wright and Tyson-Williams. He worked 27 years as an inspector and member of what is now the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.

Shaw cut his teeth in the promotions business as chief operating officer for Main Events, a New Jersey company owned by Kathy Duva. He organized his own outfit three years ago. A self-made man, Shaw once owned a chain of eight card and gift stores in New Jersey.

Like Finkel, Shaw has a reputation of transparency when dealing with fighters.

"My high is getting my guy to the pinnacle in that big fight," said Shaw, quoted by Keith Idec of the North Jersey Herald News. "And if I die unexpectedly, it will be at ringside because when my guys are in the ring, it’s like my own kid is fighting."

Under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a boxing manager may not be a promoter because of the inherent conflict of interest in both roles.

In Pacquiao’s fight against Hector Velazquez in Los Angeles on Sept. 10, the promoter is Bob Arum.

Asencio said Pacquiao now weighs 132 pounds and will be in peak form when the bell rings for the Velazquez fight.

"Manny’s doing OK," texted Asencio. "He’s not yet perfectly fit but we’re confident that he’ll be in peak form when he gets into the ring on Sept. 10."

According to Asencio, Pacquiao sleeps at 8 p.m. and wakes up at 5 a.m. for his daily run. He spars Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and works out Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

Last Tuesday and Thursday, Pacquiao jogged five miles in 30 minutes at Griffith Park.

Asencio, personal trainer Buboy Fernandez and former fighter Gerry Balagbagan stay with Pacquiao at the posh Palazoo Apartments in the Los Angeles district of La Brea. They are all joined by conditioning coach Justin Fortune for Pacquiao’s daily jog.

Pacquiao’s chief sparmate is IBF superbantamweight champion Israel Vazquez who repulsed challenger Armando Guerrero in his second title defense in Illinois last May. Vazquez, 27, has a 38-3 record with 28 KOs.

Five years ago, Vazquez decisioned Velazquez in a tenner. Among his knockout victims were Oscar Larios, Filipino Don Don Concepcion, Jorge Eliecer Julio, Jose Luis Valbuena and Art Simonyan.

Although Vazquez is a no-frills brawler, he is only a 122-pounder. Pacquiao and Velazquez will face off under a 130-pound limit.