NEW YORK CITY ? Last Wednesday 12 May, the final news conference was held for the Amir Khan-Paulie Malignaggi WBA super lightweight title fight for Saturday night at the WaMu Theater, Madison Square Garden. While Khan insisted that his fists will do the talking for the loud-mouthed boxer from Brooklyn, Malignaggi gently referred to Khan as a ?tourist? in his beloved lair of New York as they toured the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building and even near the NASDAQ Headquarters for some promotional obligations. After the presscon, this author was among a bunch of press people who swarmed around the indefatigable Wild Card Gym trainer Freddie Roach who gamely answered one question after another. When it was my turn, I told him that a Philippine TV network featured an interview by Manny Pacquiao in which he stated that ?he sought his mother?s blessing for one more fight? and in which she confidently said ?Okay?. I asked him if he thinks Manny is indeed good for one more fight before he eventually retires. ?Manny will decide on that, not his mom whom I also respect, ? Roach straightforwardly replied. After which I thanked him after the solitary query and left the group and walk a few meters away to interview strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza who is also part of Khan?s corner on fight night. Here?s how the interview went: Digital Journal (DJ): Hi Alex, how are you? What?s your prediction for the fight on Saturday? Alex Ariza (AA): I?m good, man?These things are always hard to predict but it will be a great fight. I think everybody almost always focuses on Amir?s speed, not his power, and I think he will be going to introduce these to Paulie on how strong Amir really is. It will be decided probably in five rounds. DJ: But Freddie, in previous interviews, said it will be only within three (laughs). AA: Oh yeah, I say it could also be in three but it depends whether or not Paulie decides to run or decides to fight all night. So let?s see if he decides to man up. I mean he talks like a real man, let?s see if he fights like one. DJ: During the promotion, Malignaggi mentioned some strong words against you, Freddie, Manny Pacquiao and even Amir Khan, implying that if the PED issue involves Manny Pacquiao who?s been training at the Wild Card Gym, then Amir Khan — with you guys as his trainers too — is also involved in it. Do you think it has become a personal thing for all of you guys? AA: I don?t think its personal but that just goes to show you their lack of self-confidence, the inability to obtain the achievements and accolades that these Wild Card fighters have. It?s very difficult as a fighter to criticize another fighter doing these superb things and just rising at a superb level, and you realize ?I will never gonna be like that.? So it?s just easy to blame it on steroids and you become happy, right? So that individual could not find the faults in himself and find out his inadequacies as an athlete. DJ: Manny Pacquiao just won a congressional seat in the Philippines and we may not know who he will be going up against and it may be long for him to train again. Do you think Baguio City could be an option as a training site? AA: Of course everybody knows I love Baguio. DJ: Really? AA: I love it. It was phenomenal, was a great place for us to train. There, I?ve never seen Manny been so focused in the camp for the Cotto fight. DJ: No distractions at all? AA: I didn?t think there was. Manny was up 5 o?clock in the morning and I?ve never seen him train as hard as before. I love that place, over-all it was a great experience.manny was always in a good mood. People were never interfering with his training and did not distract us and treated us like family so I would like to go back. Wherever Manny chooses to train, of course, but Baguio is one of those places I really love for the training camp. DJ: Your opinion on Manny?s election as member of the Philippine Congress? AA: I am happy with his victory. Whatever Manny decides to do ultimately, I will always support him. I am not only his strength coach but he is also a friend of mine. He is an ambassador of goodwill and this may be a good spot for him to be able to expand the greater good that he loves to afford to everybody. DJ: The other day, Pacquiao?s mother was said to have given her blessing to Manny for one more fight. Freddie stressed earlier when I asked him that Manny will be the one to decide whether or not he hangs up his gloves, not solely on his mom?s. You think Manny is good for just one last fight, or a few more fights? AA : Considering what we have seen of him, Manny is good for three or four years.. DJ: You serious? AA: I am. I mean I train Amir Khan who is 22 years old and Vanes Martirosyan (middleweight contender) who is 23 years old. These guys are supreme, superb athletes at their age but Manny still surpasses them in times and speeds and some of those hard drills and agilities that I have them do. So it just goes to show he is getting better and better. But truly it?s still up to him. He?s the one getting in the ring but aside from all those endeavors he immerses himself unto ? singing, showbiz?.and now being a congressman, I believe his passion in his blood is still being a fighter. DJ: You are known as a great strength and conditioning coach, Alex. I hate to do some comparisons with the Wild Card boxers, but how would you rate Manny in terms of physical conditioning vis-?-vis Amir Khan? AA: Amir is well-conditioned but Manny is on a different level. Amir is 22 years old, a phenomenal and elite athlete. Sometimes we bring in Martirosyan to run and train with him, they are great athletes. But Manny at 31 years old is still the fastest, the strongest. Probably an athlete that I?ve never ever experienced coaching in my life, even read about. It would be wonderful to be involved in something like checking his lung capacity and all these scientific studies that we could do. Because you can publish such things about an athlete ? his stamina and all the things he does. Hopefully in the next 5 years, developing Amir and Vanes may possibly be similar to Manny but a guy like Manny Pacquiao comes around once in a lifetime, man. He may be from a different planet, I dunno (smiles). DJ: I totally understand and respect Bob Arum in his quest to make the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight without the ?negotiation? starting in the media so my question would be centering instead on the training period should that super fight pushes through. You have any plans of having a longer camp this time? AA: No. Manny does not need that kind of training. Manny gives his 100% during training and shorter camps are a lot more effective for guys like Manny his approach to the conditioning part is 100%, his approach to the boxing itself obviously is 100% so you can?t really have to extend the camp because he will burn himself out or overtrain, something dangerous like that. So 7-8 week camps are the best for him. DJ: Well said. Thank you so much for your time Alex and Manny?s fans appreciate all the help you are extending to him. Hope to see you in Manny?s next press conference. Good luck on Saturday night. AA: Sounds good, man. Thank you.
