Boxing’s most sought after trainer, Freddie Roach wanted to respond to the recent reports that he and his assistant, Justin Fortune have split up. As most boxing fans know, Freddie has been in Puerto Rico getting Oscar De La Hoya ready for his May 5 mega fight against unblemished pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fueling these rumors was the trainers fee check written by Bob Arum, to Justin Fortune instead of Freddie Roach. Roach admits that the check was written to Justin and suggested that it may have been a slap in the face due to recent issues with Top Rank, Golden Boy, and Freddie Roach all encompassing the Manny Pacquiao situation. Boxingtalk spoke to both Freddie Roach and Justin Fortune, both of which deny that any problems are occurring within the team.
BC ? Freddie it seems like every day we are squashing rumors. Please respond to the article written on PhilBoxing.com titled, (Roach and Fortune Splitting Up).
FR ? Well I haven’t talked to Justin since San Antonio, but Bob Arum cut the check to Justin Fortune instead of me. It usually goes to me because Manny is my fighter, Justin has been training Manny for 3 and a half weeks. I think Bob doesn’t like me because he thinks I am against him. The thing is, Manny asked me to introduce him to Golden Boy’s people, and that’s what I did. Bob got pissed off at me I guess, but I don’t know of any problem between me and Justin at all. As far as I am concerned, there are no problems.
BC ? When you read an article titled (ROACH AND FORTUNE SPLIT UP), I am guessing that you of all people would know if it were true, no?
FR ? Yes, you would think so. I did hear some rumors that Bob Arum told Justin that I am keeping him in the shadows, and that he is a better trainer than me and so forth. Justin is my strength coach, and he will be a good trainer someday I do feel. If he did want to go on his own, I am sure he would call me up and tell me. Justin is a man, he doesn’t beat around the bush. Manny Pacquaio has been my guy for six years, and Bob Arum is trying to get Pacquiao away from me because they think that I am against Top Rank. I just introduced Manny to Golden Boy, I didn’t sign a contract, I didn’t force anyone to do anything, all I did was introduce people. They made a deal, but I didn’t force anyone to do anything. I am not sure why all of this happened, but me and Justin have agreed to the percentage, and everything is fine.
BC ? If Justin wasn’t happy about the percentage that you guys agreed on, he would have told you up front, no? Is that a fair assumption to make?
I have taken care of Justin, and all of my people for years. I am a generous man, I think this is coming from outside sources, and I don’t think any of this is coming from Justin Fortune.
BC ? Do you feel that Bob Arum did this on purpose to you, as sort of a middle finger towards you?
FR ? I am really tired of Bob Arum with the things this guy is saying. He’s saying things like Justin Fortune is a better trainer than me, and calling me an idiot, he’s saying Pacquaio doesn’t need us and so on. Not too long ago he said I was the greatest trainer in the world. I don’t want to get into this with Bob Arum, I fought for the guy for 10 years. The biggest payday that I ever got with his company was 7,500 dollars. They didn’t pay me a lot of money, I was on ESPN like 21 times with them, and this is what I get for that. Just because I introduced Manny to Golden Boy now I am the bad guy? Like I forced Manny to sign the contract? Manny is his own man, he negotiated his own deal with Golden Boy.
BC ? Closing thoughts Freddie?
FR ? I want to say to everybody that me and Manny are very solid. When he saw me in San Antonio he told me ‘The captain of the ship has arrived’. Manny needs big fights, he needs to fight big fights to be at his best. Manny rises to the occasion on big fights, and guys like Solis doesn’t do that for him. Manny will continue to be my fighter in the future.
