FREDDIE ROACH ARRIVES IN CEBU TODAY!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Dec 2006
The world's most popular boxing trainer is set to visit the country's boxing capital today.
Celebrated boxing trainer Freddie Roach is set to visit Cebu this afternoon to honor an earlier invitation by promoter Sammy Gello-ani and sportsman Antonio L. Aldeguer, as well as visit his new-found ally, promoter Rex 'Wakee' Salud.
Roach had been invited by Gello-ani to visit Cebu during the Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista-Giovanni Andrade fight last December 2, and the popular ring tactician accepted the invitation to drop by Cebu if his time would permit.
Salud, who recently became an ally of Roach following what he termed as being 'stabbed in the back' by one of Bob Arum's trusted men, also informed yesterday that indeed, Roach is set to arrive on a PAL flight at 2PM from General Santos City via Manila.
Gello-ani, in an interview, said that he would pick up Roach at the airport, although Salud has also indicated that he would just wait for Roach at the airport as he arrives an hour earlier on another flight from General Santos City.
From the airport, Roach will proceed to the Marriott Hotel where he has been booked by Gello-ani, before the celebrated trainer takes part in a press conference arranged by Aldeguer later in the day.
"Where is Sammy?" Roach asked this writer when we met him at the Royale Hotel in General Santos City. Apparently, Roach had wanted to talk to Sammy Gello-ani for a visit in Cebu.
Both Roach and Salud had attended last Sunday's grand birthday celebration of Manny Pacquiao, which also coincided with Mary Divine Grace Pacquiao's christening as well as the house blessing of the P35-Million mansion built by the fighter for his family.
"Wakee is now with me. He likes me now. Dont worry," Roach said in an interview last Saturday.
Roach, in an interview with this writer in General Santos City, said that he was confident Pacquiao would see the light and finally choose Golden Boy Promotions as his promoter instead of Top Rank, and fight Marco Antonio Barrera instead of any of Arum's fighters.
Pacquiao versus Barrera is considered the biggest fight out there to be made in the 130-lb division, and the Mexican has indicated that he is ready to avenge his earlier stoppage loss to Pacquiao.
"Pacquiao is the best in the division right now, and I respect him. But i want to fight him soonest and just like when i gave him the opportunity when we first fought each other, i hope he gives me the opportunity to fight him this time," said Barrera through an interpreter in an interview in Las Vegas last November 18.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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