Strength and conditioning guru Alex Ariza has been making a lot of headlines in the last couple of days. Ariza works with numerous fighters at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. Some of those fighters include WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, WBC middleweight king Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, and WBO/WBA 140-pound titleholder Amir Khan.
Ariza is unhappy with some of the events that are taking place behind the scenes, involving two of his main fighters – Pacquiao and Chavez. During a recent interview that appeared on fighthype.com, Ariza made several critical comments regarding Top Rank’s CEO, Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Chavez. Ariza made allegations that Arum is looking to have him and Freddie Roach replaced in the Chavez corner, and that Arum was complaining and dissatisfied with the fact that he handled the cut over Manny?s eye during the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy bout on November 12th.
BoxingScene.com caught with Alex, and even though it was Thanksgiving weekend – was still in the gym working with his boxers.
BoxingScene.com: Alex, seems that there is some confusion over whether or not Arum and Manny are negotiating at this moment for a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
?I never tried to dip my hat into the promotional ring; it?s none of my business but Bob went above and beyond , trying to get me fired , trying to get me discredited ,trying to interfere with my fighters.?
BoxingScene.com: What do you feel Arum is trying to do with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and your agreement?
?Like I said he was trying to move him over the hill?
BoxingScene.com: Move him over to Robert Garcia, you mean?
?Yes?
BoxingScene.com: Do you have a written contract with your fighters or a handshake agreement?
?It?s a contract?
BoxingScene.com: Would it not be tortious interference then if you have a contract?
?You know the thing is that he (Arum) is not stupid, he has a way of doing things.?
BoxingScene.com: Are you saying that he is doing it through a third party?
?He could be doing it thru 3-4 different parties?
BoxingScene.com: So, you think he has a gopher doing it for him?
?Exactly, so that is why I came out and said what I had to say, and if he leaves me alone things are fine, if not I?ll have more things to say.?
BoxingScene.com: To be honest Alex, I wrote yesterday that perhaps it?s time Manny promoted himself?
?I wish I would have said that one myself. You know I just saw an article where Manny?s doctor said that the cut was down to the bone, but yet after I stopped the bleeding in the tenth round. I don?t understand what he is so upset about.?
