Boxing News: Reunited

Steve Kim: Reunited

Reunited
By Steve Kim (March 22, 2004)

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Promoter Murad Muhammad swore that as long as he was working with featherweight king Manny Pacquiao that there was no way Freddie Roach would be in his corner ever again. Roach swore that as long as Muhammad was promoting the Filipino that he would no longer train 'the Pac Man'.

Well, not only is Muhammad still promoting Pacquiao, Roach will be in his corner when he takes on the skilled Juan Manuel Marquez on May 8th.

A couple of months ago there had been a very public tug-of-war between the promoter and trainer for Pacquiao, and the dispute, like most others in this game, centered around money and control. But Pacquiao has seemingly patched things up between both his promoter and trainer.

"Manny came in last night (Friday)," explained Roach on Saturday afternoon. "I met him at the airport. We discussed what his plans were and pretty much he wants me to be his trainer. He said I'd get my full ten-percent. He apologized for not following through with his plans but he had a lot of pressure from people at home."

Roach says that Pacquiao had become one of his personal favorites.

"I like the kid a lot," he said. "He's a good kid. I think he's a bit naive sometimes. Pretty much right now my job is to get him ready for the fight against Marquez. That's gonna be my duty and that's as far as I'm gonna go this time."

In other words, the next time Pacquiao wants some advice, he'd better go listen to EF Hutton.

By Saturday afternoon, the two were working together at the Wild Card Boxing Club. Some thought that Pacquiao would never be seen again in Hollywood. But Roach says he never lost hope.

"Not really because Manny's pretty loyal to me and really responds well to me and I think he's be uncomfortable with somebody else," he said. "I heard that Murad doesn't want me around anymore and maybe Rod Nazario, too. I'm not sure, but they said Manny put his foot down and said I was getting my ten-percent and that was it."

HISPANIC CAUSIN' PANIC

Lightweight contender Juan Lazcano, who is also trained by Roach, is back in the gym preparing for his June 5th title shot against Jose Luis Castillo. Lazcano has decided against taking an April tune-up fight.

"I would have liked a tune-up fight because he's been off for a long time and the inactivity is never good for a fighter," Roach said. "But on the other hand, the tune-up fight was actually a little bit too close. So we're going to workout extra long in the gym and he's already in the gym. He's going to be down here in L.A. 'till the fight (June 5th) and really get some good sparring partners."