Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach questioned his fighter’s dedication to boxing in recent weeks following a training camp that was more chaotic than usual, he told Reuters on Tuesday.
Filipino Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), who takes on Mexico’s Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) on Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Texas for the vacant WBA super welterweight belt, is known for being heavily involved in extracurricular activities, which include, among other things, getting elected to Congress in his home country.
Roach said a particularly jarring moment came during a recent day of training when Pacquiao turned to him and said he missed his job.
“I said, ‘Manny, this is your job.’ And he said, ‘No, I miss Congress.’ Right then, I thought on Monday morning he’d be going to Congress instead of to the gym,” said Roach.
However, since camp moved to Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, “everything has fallen into place,” the trainer said. “I was nervous in the Philippines. Now I’m 100 per cent happier.”
