ROACH NOT WORRIED ABOUT PACQUIAO AT THE MOMENT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 02 Aug 2007
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach is not worried at the moment about the delay in Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao’s arrival in Los Angeles to begin training for his rematch with legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, the two-time “Trainer of the Year” revealed that Pacquiao was scheduled to arrive in the US on August 4 which appeared to jibe with the announcement by Pacquiao’s close friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud that Pacquiao will depart on Sunday aboard a Philippine Airlines flight for LA with trainers Buboy Hernandez and Nonoy Neri.
Pacquiao had previously postponed his departure no less than four times even as he continued shooting a movie with sexy star Ara Mina and was also seen playing pool at a Japanese-owned pool hall in Mabini, One Side.
However, according to Salud, Pacquiao will inaugurate his new gym in Cebu , then leave for his hometown of General Santos to watch a fight card of MP Promotions to which IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire has been invited before leaving for the US the following day.
Roach said “he is supposed to be here on the 4th if he gets any later than that then I will start to worry. We have seven weeks if he comes on the 4th so we’ll be okay.”
Barrera is determined to avenge the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Pacquiao in November 2003 in San Antonio, Texas when he was stopped in eleven rounds after a bad beating and has already begun training. Barrera said he is determined to beat Pacquiao and become the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Roach said “this wont be an easy fight. Barrera can make it difficult.” At the same time the popular trainer indicated that while Pacquiao is reportedly having late nights playing pool and shooting a movie, when he gets into the Wild Card Gym he is the most dedicated athlete in the world and “its no problem.”
Pacquiao's failure to leave for the US forced Top Rank promotero Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions to re-set a news conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel which Pacquiao and Barrera were scheduled to attend last week.
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