World-renowned trainer Freddie Roach touched down from Los Angeles yesterday and immediately took a connecting flight to Davao City along with Ring Magazine featherweight king Manny Pacquiao and his personal trainer Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez, aiming to put a semblance of direction into the training of the Filipino hero and whip him up ready for the December 11 “Yanig sa Taguig” fight card at The Fort where he battles IBF No. 4 super bantamweight Fahsan 3K Battery in a twelve round bout.
The duel against Fahsan 3K Battery is sponsored by SMART, Talk N’ Text and Solar Sports with the support of Mayor Freddie Tinga of Taguig.
Roach, in an interview with Viva Sports at the airport indicated that Pacquiao should pull no stops in his war preparations because “this guy is fighting Manny Pacquiao, the most recognized featherweight in the world today so he?s gonna come to win and we?ll have to take care of him.”
The Trainer of the Year awardee indicated his displeasure over reports that Pacquiao was shooting a reality TV show in the midst of training, staying up late playing pool and was generally taking things easy. He said “too many distractions are not good for him. He?s got to take care of his body and he?s got to focus on this fight because it is leading up to the fight against ( WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel) Marquez which is the biggest fight of his (Pacquiao?s) life.”
“I?m going to have to sit him down and get his head in the right place,” Roach said, convinced that the Filipino southpaw has “a very bright future in front of him but the thing is, he?s got to stay disciplined and he?s got to keep his mind on boxing. He needs to stay away from home and get his mind on this fight.”
Roach was also apparently concerned about the inadequate training facilities at the Almendras Gym in Davao City where Pacquiao trains compared to the top-class facilities at the Wild Card Gym in BF Homes, Paranaque.
The bespectacled trainer also pointed out he lack of good sparring partners after Philippine lightweight champion Fernando Montilla was injured, while another sparmate Christopher Saluday, reportedly could not handle Pacquiao?s punches.
“I?ll get a hold of him and we?ll be back in Manila soon” emphasized Roach adding “we need good training facilities.”
