Philippines, 19 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Roach downplays Ariza?s absence


PhilBoxing.com





BAGUIO CITY ? ?Manny conditions himself.?

This was how chief trainer Freddie Roach put the loss of strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who left the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion?s training camp here Saturday night.

?Manny already knows the basics on how to put himself in shape and I don?t believe Alex?s absence would adversely affect these aspects of preparations seven weeks before his next fight,? Roach said, adding there?s no way Ariza?s loss would derail the total training program.

The Filipino eight-division kingpin will be putting his 147-pound crown to stake against undefeated American Timothy Bradley on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

?No, it won?t derail or destroy what have started. Manny had matured these past many years, surviving all the distractions thrown his way in many attempts to destroy him and ruin his career,? Roach said in a statement attesting to his trust in his ward of 11 years.

What drove many, including sectors in media, to believe the relationship between Pacquiao and Ariza had ended was the statements attributed to the trainer this time, he will see to it that he'll oversee the training his way, unlike in the Filipino fighters previous training when he refused to follow some of his instructions.

?Well, Manny always doesn?t listen to Alex, anyway. So nothing?s new really,? Roach said with a smile in his face. ?Alex, for instance, opposes Manny?s playing basketball. Alex wants Manny instead to swim.?

Meanwhile, the 52-year-old Hall of Famer said he himself will handle the strength and conditioning portion of Pacquiao?s fine-tuning program until such time that Ariza comes back or somebody surfaces to do the stamina-building program.

?I have been doing this conditioning thing all my life until I discovered Alex who I recommended to Manny himself, so I don?t see derailment in the program as some sectors feared,? Roach said.

Roach said he will be assisting by Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio, his understudy for the past few years who he said is very capable of implementing the program Ariza has prepared.

Somodio, a member of the Anson Tiu Co-owned Shape Up Boxing Gym training team at the Cooyeessn Hotel here, handled former junior welterweight champion Amir Khan?s training here before Roach arrived.

?Yeah, Marvin?s more than qualified to do the job. In fact, I plan to bring him to the Wild Card Gym to continue implementing the program in case Alex doesn?t come back,? Roach assured.

?I?ll try to work it out with Manny if Marvin can be included in the team when we move to Los Angeles for the last month of training.?

?Alex was quoted as saying he?ll be back when training shifts to Wild Card, but I don?t know how he can. Chavez is fighting a week after Manny?s fight with Bradley, Many things can happen, you know,?

Ariza asked and obtained permission from both Pacquiao and Khan to leave and help Julio Cezar Chavez Jr. in his own preparations for his coming title bout with Andy Lee on June 16 in El Paso, Texas.

?No, Alex did not resign. He merely told Manny his desire to give priority to Chavez and Manny consented,? Roach disclosed.

?Manny is too kind to say no to any request, especially from members of his team,? Roach said. ?I?m sure he would again say yes if Alex will approach him later to re-assume his job.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 3rd Horse Show & competition scheduled on February 21-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • Robinsons Bacolod Chess Festival set
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Alex Bray Set for WBA Continental Latin American Title Clash February 20 in Orlando
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Calls out Jai Opetaia
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • BREAKING NEWS: DAZN AND MATCHROOM BOXING SIGN NEW FIVE-YEAR DEAL
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • 75 climbers start trekking to Mt. Apo today
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Dainier Pero Locked In Ahead of WBA Continental USA Title Defense in Orlando
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • A Milestone Birthday: Celebrating Brico Santig's 50 Years of Dedication, and Triumph
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • PH bet Chezka Centeno finishes 2nd in Florida
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • ARNOLD BARBOZA JR. AND KENNETH SIMS JR. SET FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH IN CAN’T-MISS MAIN EVENT ON DAZN
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • CALLUM SMITH VS DAVID MORRELL MEGA FIGHT SET FOR APRIL 18 IN LIVERPOOL AS PAT BROWN HEADLINES IN HIS HOMETOWN ON APRIL 3
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Youth High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • Rapid chessfest gets underway February 22
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 16 FEBRUARY 2026: Ajagba, Dzambekov, Ruiz Register Stoppage Wins in Zuffa Event
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Mexican government and WBC join forces to create mega-project “Boxing for Peace”
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • All eyes on GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • LEIGH WOOD OUTLINES PLAN OF ATTACK FOR SOLD OUT REMATCH AGAINST JOSH WARRINGTON
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Cain Velasquez released from a California State prison
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Patrick Rivera wins Pacman's Cue Club 10-Ball Tournament; pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor Fighting again in Detroit this Sunday on Claressa Shields’ card
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES Gabriela Tellez Ready to Make a Statement This Friday in Orlando
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.