BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Freddie Roach has had enough, No more “fun and games” in training.
Alarmed by the distractions hounding Manny Pacquiao as he prepares for a tough fight, the most sought-after trainer in the sport today said it’s time to get rid of everything that has nothing to do with boxing.
“It’s good and all, but we’re training for a fight here,” said Roach following a strenuous two-hour workout at the Shape-Up Gym here.
Pacquiao jogged yesterday morning at the Philippine Military Academy grounds in the outskirts of the city, and spent longer than necessary because more than a hundred cadets joined him in the 30-minute run.
He joined the cadets in their morning exercises, too, and there was picture-taking after the run. Then there was some target-shooting at the PMA firing range. It took Pacquiao more than three hours to get out of the camp.
“That’s one more thing I’m upset about. It’s a nice thing to do but we’re getting ready for a fight. It’s not gonna happen again. Let us do our job, you know. If they want to do something like that on a Sunday, okay. But not during training days,” said Roach.
Roach was not happy at all that Pacquiao, two weeks into training and six more to go, still finds time to play basketball with some friends and Team Pacquiao members at the upper-floor gymnasium of the Cooyeesan Hotel.
During the fight’s press tour almost a month ago, Pacquiao played basketball in San Francisco, and came home with a bum knee. Twice already since they started training here, he had gone to the basketball court for some games.
Roach hasn’t talked to Pacquiao about it, but said from now on he’d do what it takes to keep him focused on the ring.
“I’d take the rim off or pop that basketball I have to,” said Roach who looked serious despite a little smile on his face.
“He can’t play basketball, run and train at the same time. Training for a hard fight is difficult and he might miss some days of running because of basketball,” he added.
Pacquiao trained the other day wearing a pad on his right knee, and Roach is just making sure that nothing gets worse than that. The knee pad was off yesterday when he worked out.
Playing basketball, while training for what should be his “toughest” fight, should be a no-no for Pacquiao because on the court one is so susceptible to injury -- a twisted ankle, a fractured finger or again, a hurting knee.
Roach said the other day he and Pacquiao had a deal that there’d be no more basketball four weeks heading to the fight. Now, with still a full six weeks remaining, the three-time Trainer of the Year wants none of it. – Abac Cordero
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