MANILA, Philippines — Walang masamang salita na manggagaling kay Freddie Roach sakaling tuluyan na siyang palitan ni Filipino world eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao bilang chief trainer.
Sinabi ni Roach na kinikilala niya ang husay ni Buboy Fernandez, matagal na niyang assistant sa corner ni Pacquiao.
“He’s had some success locally and he’s good on the mitts,” wika ni Roach sa panayam ng Yahoo Sports. “I’d like to see him lose some weight and get into better shape so he can work harder, but I think he’ll be fine.”
Sinabi kamakailan ni Michael Koncz, ang Canadian business manager ni Pacquiao, binitawan na ng Filipino boxing icon si Roach at ipinalit si Fernandez bilang chief trainer sa paghahamon kay Argentinian world welterweight king Lucas Matthysse sa Hulyo 15 (Manila time) sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nilinaw naman kamakalawa ni Pacquiao sa kanyang Instagram post na wala pa siyang pormal na pahayag kung tuluyan nang makikipaghiwalay kay Roach, tumulong sa kanya para maging tanging boksingerong naghari sa walong magkakaibang weight divisions.
“We had a great long run together and I can’t be too mad,” wika ni Roach. “I heard it like everyone else, and that’s the thing that is a little disappointing, but my thoughts mostly are about all the good times we had and the work we did together. When Manny Pacquiao walked through my door, it changed my life.”
Ikinalungkot naman ni Lehlo Ledwaba, inagawan ni Pacquiao ng IBF super bantamweight crown sa kanyang unang title fight noong 2001, ang nangyayari kay ‘Pacman’ at kay Roach.