A MEMBER of Erik Morales’ training team yesterday unleashed verbal jabs at Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach for mocking the team of experts surrounding the Mexican ring icon.
Exercise physiologist Jorgen Persson, one of the Velocity Sports Performance experts commissioned by Top Rank big boss Bob Arum to monitor Morales’ training, said the American trainer’s statements did nothing to help the sport.
“The negative comparison between traditional boxing conditioning and contemporary science is sadly black and white, and possibly detrimental to the future of boxing as a growing and developing sport,” asserted Persson in an interview with Boxingscene.com. Roach was recently quoted as saying that his old-school training techniques trumped the highly scientific approach of Velocity’s team of certified experts.
“My goodness, I have never seen so many people surround one man to make sure he eats so little,” Roach commented after Morales stepped on the scales for the WBC’s 30-day weigh-in.
“That was no weigh-in, it was a Weight Watchers meeting,” added Roach in the interview with the popular boxing website. “I don’t know what Velocity has on his menu, but I guarantee you on Nov. 18, Manny will be serving Erik a steady diet of Reyes leather all night long until he can eat no more.”
Roach was referring to the gloves Pacquiao will be using for the fight against Morales on Nov. 18, the third part of a popular trilogy featuring the two top super featherweights of the world.
Reports were also out that the Velocity experts have been warned of Morales’ possible escape from training camp to observe the Halloween break.
“I have been in boxing for many years and never, never, have I heard of a training camp like this,” said Roach. “The word we’re hearing from Mexico, is that Morales’ cravings have become so alarming, he almost ate a 400-page biography of Milton Hershey last week.”
Persson countered by saying: “I have found that many successful boxers actually respect science more than many well-meaning traditional coaches do. Also, real scientists respect all the fabulous coaches and boxers out there, who make things happen against all odds. It’s often a very tough job that practical and applied science can make easier and more consistent.”
Persson then took a dig at Roach, saying, “the improved difference you will see on Nov. 18, is a direct result of an intelligent sponsor, caring coaches and a great boxer thinking ahead by embracing traditional know-how and progressive conditioning science.”
