MANILA, Philippines — For now, Freddie Roach?s eyes are focused on Manny Pacquiao. Not on Oscar De La Hoya.
The two-time Trainer of the Year wants the Filipino ring icon to be at his best when he tangles with Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez for the World Boxing Council super featherweight crown on March 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
At the same time, Roach shrugs off reports that De La Hoya, whom he trained in a losing fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year, has junked him in favor of Floyd Mayweather Sr.
?I?m not really worried about it (De La Hoya decision),? Roach told Steve Kim of maxBOXING.com. ?I got Pacquiao getting ready for a big fight so I?ve got to concentrate on that.?
Pacquiao has been training earnestly at Roach?s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood since Jan. 16 in preparation for Pacquiao-Marquez II dubbed the ?Unfinished Business? because their first fight in 2004 ended in a controversial draw.
According to Roach, the De La Hoya camp informed him that they haven?t reached a decision as of Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
?So I?m really not worried about it,? said Roach, who, however, admitted that he?d be disappointed if the reports turn out to be true.
?I like working with Oscar,? said Roach. ?I thought we had a good camp together last time and I think it would be better because we got more time to know each other.?
Roach supervised De la Hoya?s preparations for Mayweather Jr. in Mexico, letting his then assistant Justine Fortune to work out with Pacquiao in Los Angeles.
Roach flew to San Antonio, Texas, on the eve of Pacquiao?s fight against Mexican Jorge Solis and then went back to De La Hoya?s side after Pacquiao?s eighth round stoppage of Solis at the Alamodome on April 14.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao was named the world?s best super featherweight by Tom Luffman in his article titled The Best of the Best: A Division Breakdown that appeared in Ringside Report ?The Heart of Boxing.?
Also cited were Vladimir Klitschko (heavyweight), David Haye (cruiserweight), Bernard Hopkins (light heavyweight), Joe Calzaghe (super middleweight), Kelly Pavlik (middleweight), Floyd Mayweather (light middleweight and welterweight), Ricky Hatton (light welterweight), Juan Diaz (lightweight), Chris John (featherweight) and Israel Vasquez (super bantamweight).
In a related development, a tour package costing P88,000 has been arranged for Filipinos aiming to watch the Pacquiao-Marquez II.
For details, call (632) 485-1650.
