Welcome to the Pacquiao confusion theater

There is such a thing as a swan song, a love song, a song of songs, an executioner’s song.

But what about a Confusioner’s Song?

If there had been none in the past, there’s one right now.

And the Chief Confusioner, in this case, goes by the name of Michael Koncz.

Koncz, to those still unaware, stands by as the irreplaceable adviser to Manny Pacquiao.

Koncz got singled out by boxing specialist Alex Groberman as confusion over Pacquiao’s next fight heightened.

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Groberman, quoting Koncz, said the possibility of a Marquez fight is there, “but there are other fighters we are negotiating with, where we can come to terms on the money as well. Nothing is definite as Manny has not made up his mind when he’s going to fight.”

That’s the latest score, straight from the horse’s mouth.

“In less than a week,” Groberman observed, “we have gotten two reports regarding the status of a fifth match between Pacquio and Marquez, a perfect example of the sort of mixed messages the Filipino star’s camp has been sending at large (or to be more exact: whenever Koncz opens his mouth).”

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Meanwhile, the prevailing bafflement thickens by the day.

Over the weekend, there flashed a line on the Internet saying Pacquiao might opt for an outright fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“Rumor?” asked international boxing correspondent Anthony Andales. “Of course, that’s a big, big fight. But the magnitude is not as big as it used to be two years ago.”

What Andales, an aeronautics engineer with a major American firm, is intrigued about is the direction Pacquiao has been trying to take.

Pacquiao himself appeared lost.

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Yes, Pacquiao has indeed scaled the summit of summits, his personal Everest, with his conquest of eight world boxing crowns in eight separate divisions.

Andales, however, likened Pacquiao to a successful climber who has inexplicably lost his way back.

“It’s a pity, kaawa-awa,” he noted. “If coming down from his own Everest, Manny has not only lost his way, but his Sherpa, as well.”

Andales surmised that this only meant Pacquiao could be exposed to the same old mistakes he had committed, mainly in his fourth disastrous outing with Marquez.

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Repeated Goberman: “The goofy befuddled look that everyone saw on Pacquiao’s face on Dec. 8 is the only one that can be associated with him and his camp. They’re all dazed and confused. That is the only way to explain all the mixed messages, poorly thought-out ideas, and conflicting theories that have emerged from his promoters, advisors, trainers and family.”

Pacquiao could always turn to the Holy Bible for solace.

But it might also help if he goes over this brief but timely message from His Airness, Michael Jordan:

“It comes down to a very simple saying: There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become very good at is shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.”

Touché.