"The best thing about Freddie and Manny is their incredible chemistry. No one should mess with or interfere with that chemistry because it's really special," Steward said.
I spoke to the “Kronk Goldfather” Tuesday morning and the man who developed Thomas “Hitman” Hearns and trained Julio Cesar Chavez, Lennox Lewis and so many other great world champions said there’s reason to worry if, as it appears, Pacman trainer Coach Freddie Roach is losing his grip on the Pinoy Idol.
“Manny is Freddie’s signature fighter,” Steward said. “I have known Freddie since way back to 1973-74 when he fought my 106-pounder John O’Neil, who I called my little Irish midget, in Lowell, Mass. Freddie is a solid trainer who was taught so much by Eddie Futch and was a good pro boxer himself.”
I asked Steward if myself and others are making too much out of the strife between Pacquiao agent Michael Koncz on one side and Roach and trainer Buboy Fernandez on the other.
Is it, I asked, a serious issue which could lead to Manny’s demise when he fights Miguel I’m No Angel Cotto Nov. 14?
“Yes, yes, yes, yes,” Steward said. “I’m working on a book telling the inside stories of boxing now and that’s part of it. Lots of fights are won and lost in the training camp. I went through that with the first Hearns-Leonard bout and then with Hearns-Hagler.
“I look at this as a tough fight, anyway, a 50-50 fight that Cotto can win and Manny can lose.”
Steward said that Coach Roach should have complete control on training related issues, including selection of sparring partners. Roach did not want “punched ticket” Jose Luis Castillo in the Pacman camp in Baguio but Koncz brought the Mexican veteran in anyway.
“These things are so important. Freddie is the boxing guy, he should make all these decisions. There should be no discussion on that. Pacquiao reminds me of Chavez. Pacquiao may be the most popular fighter ever in his own home country so I can understand why Freddie would’ve wanted
him to train in Mexico with less distractions.
“Training in the Philippines, because of his status, is probably the last place Manny should be right now.”
Steward said that, when a fighter achieves the financial status and importance of Pacquiao, it’s impossible to keep away all the people who have their own motives to get the boxer’s ear.
“It comes down to egos and to money,” Steward said. “So many fighters, it’s the guy or guys who are always around him, who have nothing else to do but to hang out with and eat with the fighter, who get some control. These kinds of people want to get influence over the star.
Steward rejects comparisons between Pacquiao thriving on the conflicts the way Muhammad Ali, with his huge entourage, did.
“Ali was a unique guy,” Steward said. “But he never forgot about (trainer) Angelo Dundee.
“In fact, if Ali was making a comeback tomorrow, I’m sure the first guy he’d call would be Angelo. He would say, “Okay, Angelo, let’s go back to the mountain and get ready.”
When it comes to the problems Coach Roach is dealing with, Steward knows all about it.
He’s been there, done that and kept on rolling.
Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d6-Manny-Stewards-warning-to-Pacquiao-Fights-won-or-lost-in-training-camp
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