Promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach, leading figures in Manny Pacquiao?s career, yesterday expressed concern over the decision made by the Filipino southpaw not to leave for the US next week so the fighter can both promote and train early for his June 28 bout in Las Vegas.
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can?t make him drink,” said Arum from Las Vegas, whose outfit Top Rank is staging Pacquiao?s crack at David Diaz?s World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown at Mandalay Bay.
“I am disappointed (that Pacquiao won?t be able to come in time for a proposed May 3 press conference),” said Arum. “But I just hope that Manny?s decision to skip the press conference will not make any difference in promoting the fight.”
Arum had earlier asked Pacquiao to fly to the US early so they could take advantage of the huge media presence in Los Angeles next week covering Oscar De La Hoya?s much-awaited fight with Steve Forbes at The Home Depot Center in Carson.
“Well, Manny makes his own decisions,” said Arum, sounding disenchanted over Pacquiao?s decision to push through with a trip to China from April 29 to May 2 as well as honor other local commitments.
Arum said the press conference will now be held on May 13 with Pacquiao and Diaz in attendance.
Roach was also concerned.
“He gave his word to me that he would dedicate this year to boxing,” said Roach from the Wild Card in Hollywood, stressing that the 29-year-old Pacquiao should not take Diaz for granted.
“People tell him that this is an easy fight but in reality it is not,” said Roach. “David Diaz is a world champion, an Olympian, a southpaw and fighting him won?t be easy.”
“I would like to see him (Pacquiao) here as soon as possible,” said the 48-year-old mentor, who nevertheless did not close the door on the possibility of leaving Wild Card to set up training camp in Cebu.
“I have been hearing also that Manny likes to train in Cebu but he won?t be as focused as he will be if he trains in the US,” said Roach, who even went to the extent of asking this writer to tell the boxer to give him a call “so we can work something out.”
“I have to know because we will be bringing over sparring partners,” said Roach, who did just that last year when Pacquiao revved up for the rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera.
But Roach, who began training Pacquiao in mid2001, is still hopeful that his No. 1 fighter will fulfill his promise.
“I want him here as soon as possible,” said Roach, who believes that an eight-week training camp is needed to hone Pacquiao for the rugged and gutsy Diaz.
