His information is second hand since he hasn?t spoken directly with his fighter for over two months.
But, as grieving his brother?s sudden death Freddie Roach understands it, Manny Pacquiao?s objection to having the mountainous Toluca, Mexico, area as his first training base for the Nov. 14 bout against Miguel Cotto are concerns for personal security.
Evidently, Pacman believes that kidnappings of wealthy persons and the border area drug dealer versus police slayings are running rampant all across Mexico.
Coach Roach doesn?t pooh pooh the security issues but said there would be no such problems in a secluded camp at Toluca.
?I can?t believe it but neither Manny or anyone else has talked to me about this. I hear Manny prefers Baguio in the Philippines and, while I love Manny?s homeland, it would be ridiculous trying to do serious training there with all the distractions he could have.
?The situation of me not speaking to Manny for so long a time, it?s unusual.?
Roach said he has a working security plan to make sure there are zero problems at a Mexican training base.
?I?ve got friends who work out here at my Wild Card Gym, they are federal marshals and they are ready to come down to work at our camp as private security for Manny and everyone else. There wouldn?t be any problems like that. I?ve got it taken care of.
?I also don?t understand why Manny, coming from the toughest part of GenSan, would be wary of Mexico. I think once I talk to Manny, he will see the light on this. Our personal security arrangement would be the best,? Roach told me Tuesday morning before he flew to Las Vegas for a funeral service for his 47 year old brother and ex-pro boxer Joey Roach.
Apparently Pacman prefers Baguio but Roach has other concerns about such a distant location.
?Getting good sparring partners to fly for 15 hours or more to the Philippines could be a real problem,? Roach said. ?It would be much easier to get quality sparmates to come down to Mexico.?
Meanwhile, Roach has not even had a condolence call from his charge.
The trainer believes that Pacman adviser Michael Koncz is blocking like the Dallas Cowboys.
