LOS ANGELES—Manny Pacquiao will address the brewing storm inside his
camp following his decision to tap Freddie Roach ahead of his first
defense of the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown
against Adrien Broner in January next year in Las Vegas.
Roach’s inclusion was met by criticism by two key figures in the
training camp: Buboy Fernandez and conditioning coach Justin Fortune.
“That’ll be okay,” Pacquiao said on Wednesday before he
had his cardio examination.
“I will talk to them (Fernandez and Fortune),” said Pacquiao, who
declared his wish to rehire Roach during the New York leg of a
two-city press tour earlier in the week.
Fernandez was elevated to the role of chief trainer when Pacquiao beat
Argentine Lucas Matthysse last July in Kuala Lumpur and Roach’s return
didn’t augur well with him.
Fortune likewise lamented Roach’s impending return, saying that
Pacquiao’s decision to bring him back “makes for a bad (training)
camp.”
“It’s going to be toxic,” said Fortune, who was in the corner manned
by Fernandez when Pacquiao battered Matthysse into submission.
Still, Fernandez swears it is Pacquiao who calls the shots since he
will be the one fighting and he assures his long-time friend that he
will do his best to work alongside Roach.
Roach said in an interview at the Wild Card Boxing Club
in Hollywood also on Wednesday that a copy of a contract
(boxer-trainer) has been forwarded to Pacquiao’s people.
Though the finer points of the contract were not revealed Roach said a
copy has has been received by Joe Ramos, who heads MP Promotions.
“There’s been a contract each fight. It’s always been that way.
Nothing different. I told my lawyer (Nick Khan) what to put in the
contract and what Manny told me. They have the contract and everyone’s
happy. No problem,” said Roach.
Pacquiao and Roach met for the first time since the Jeff Horn fight in
July last year in Brisbane at Pacquiao’s suite at the Waldorf Astoria
in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night.
While Fernandez and Fortune share the same sentiment, the 58-year-old
Roach maintains that he doesn’t see any problem working with the two.
“We are a team,” said Roach, noting that Fernandez “did a good job in
the last fight (with Matthysse).
“He’s not a problem,” said Roach, stressing that he doesn’t have any
beef with Fortune.
Pacquiao is heading back to the Philippines this weekend to set the
stage for the first phase of the eight-week buildup with Fortune in
tow.
On Dec. 22, Pacquiao will fly to Los Angeles to start working with
Roach and the skies opening up. (Nick Giongco)
