Koncz: Pacquiao okay despite heart issues

MANILA, Philippines — Team Pacquiao is not pushing the panic button following the heartbreaking news that WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is suffering from an “inborn heart problem.”

Pacquiao, according to his personal adviser, Mike Koncz, is doing fine. His performance inside the ring against Lucas Matthysse last Sunday tells the whole story.

“The doctor explained everything to me and it’s not a medical issue at this time,” Koncz told The STAR during an overseas call yesterday morning.

Koncz said he was in Kuala Lumpur when he spoke to Pacquiao’s physician.

“Manny is okay. I spent an hour with him at 1 a.m. after the first and he said he was okay. He told me, ‘Mike, I still have it in me,’” added the Canadian adviser.

Through his information officer, the 39-year-old boxer and senator bared that he underwent an emergency checkup a week before the fight.

Based on the narration of Team Pacquiao member Aquiles Zonio, Pacquiao was taken to Manila from General Santos City on July 8, the day before he flew to Malaysia.

Only a handful knew about the trip to Manila. They arrived at the hospital at 3 p.m. and stayed there until the following morning.

Pacquiao, who had complained of some difficulty breathing during training, underwent angiogram and ECG (electrocardiogram) and was made to run on a treadmill.

The doctors found out that Pacquiao has an “inborn heart problem.”

People were alarmed with the news.

The doctors had wanted Pacquiao to cancel the fight. But the 39-year-old icon insisted on pushing through, and had to sign a waiver.