Pacquiao ever loyal to Nike
Manny Pacquiao’s loyalty with Nike kept the Filipino boxing superstar using the product even after his lucrative endorsement deal with the giant apparel company expired over two years ago.
“Manny has always been loyal to his sponsors,” the boxer’s business manager, Eric Pineda, told
The STAR yesterday after Nike terminated its endorsement deal with Pacquiao the other day.
“Ever since, Manny Pacquiao has been loyal to Nike,” said Pineda, adding that after the contract expired, other brands started knocking on their doors with their own offers.
“But Manny liked Nike and even with no contract, he chose to wear Nike, even after the contract expired and was not renewed,” said Pineda.
What was left of the lucrative deal between Nike and Pacquiao, who started wearing the famous swoosh almost 10 years ago, was an agreement that involved no money.
“Under the agreement, Nike would provide Manny with training gear and apparel before and during his fights. There was no money involved,” he said.
“Therefore, there was nothing much to lose anymore. And in short, Manny continued to endorse Nike products even when there was no money involved, only out of loyalty,” Pineda said.
But after Nike the other day came out with a statement saying, “We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao,” the Filipino boxer can now look elsewhere.
Pineda admitted that there are others wanting to strike an endorsement deal with Pacquiao, and they’re now looking into the offers. “We have other brands in mind. It’s not too late.
May mga inaayos( they are being fixed). With what Nike did, we are now at liberty to consider our options,” Pineda said.
He did not name names but said, “If Manny wants, he can go back using No Fear or even Accel.”
“The bottomline here is Manny Pacquiao was loyal to Nike through the years,” said Pineda.
Pacquiao, who came under fire for his comments against same-sex marriage, said he respects the decision of Nike to end their relationships. “It’s their decision. I respect it,” Pacquiao said. The boxer who’s seeking a senatorial slot in the May 9 elections went through with his training for his April 9 fight with Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas.
He continued to impress people around him whether he’s out on the road or inside the gym still less than two months before the fight.
Pacquiao, according to reports, is not bothered by the Nike decision.