When Manny Pacquiao was lying facedown on the canvas after getting knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez last Saturday, you didn't think it could get worse for the legendary Filipino.
Unless, of course, his aides allegedly attacked a photographer who was taking pictures of the knockout.
According to Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez allegedly began assaulting Getty Images photographer Al Bello as he tried to take pictures of the historic moment at the MGM Grand on Saturday.
Bello told Yahoo! Sports, "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."
Even when Bello jumped out of the ring, Fernandez allegedly followed him.
Koncz sent a text message to Yahoo! Sports that read, "Not an assault just a miss understanding(sic) in the heat of the moment."
The problem for Koncz is that photographer Chris Cozzone has photographic evidence of Koncz and Hernandez attacking Bello. Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said he would possibly impose penalties on Koncz and Fernandez if he saw something reviewing the incident.
This is certainly not how Pacquiao saw the month of December going for him. He not only got knocked out in the sixth round against his greatest rival, the alleged attack of Bello is a black mark against his team and, in part, his legacy. It's not exactly the greatest time for his team to start attacking people when he's in the twilight of his career and he wants to end things on a positive note.
Even if Pacquiao's career doesn't end how he wants it to inside the ring, his team would be wise to stay composed out of it.
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