Intriguing development in the Manny Pacquiao camp, what with several well placed sources, now saying that Coach Freddie Roach has privately and publicly stated that he will ask the Pinoy Idol to choose either his training services or that of controversial conditioning guru Alex Ariza. It seems the bad blood between Roach and Ariza is thicker than ever. Ariza’s getting canned by first Amir Khan (he was briefly rehired) and then by another Roach-trained star, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., did not help matters. The only question is whether Roach greased the grapevine for Ariza’s exit. Peacemaker Pacquiao may again use the words of the late Rodney King and ask his camp, “Can’t we all get along?” But Roach is said to be now resolved to not working alongside Ariza again. Never say never, this is boxing after all, but I’d make book that either Roach or Ariza is absent from Pacman’s next fight camp and it would be shocking if Manny calls the trainer’s bluff… Please spare me all the phony moral outrage in boxing circles this week. Some think the Dereck Chisora-David Haye grudge fight in England is a sham, a travesty and something beneath the sport-business. Come on, dreamers. This is boxing or, as Jimmy Cannon labeled it, the red light district of sports. If you’re such a moral purist, so high hat and politically correct, you would advocate the abolition of a business which renders so many human beings mentally deficient and sometimes even dead. Is Chisora-Haye any more odious or offensive than Mike Tyson vowing to jail rape opponent Razor Ruddock or Tyson saying he would like “to eat” the nonexistent children of foe Lennox Lewis? Which brings me to the constant, irritating chatter of Amir Khan opponent Danny Garcia’s trainer/father, Angel. This is Poppa Garcia’s first time at a big time rodeo and, while his remarks about Pakistani boxers and the like, are dumb his enthusiasm, his attempt to get a verbal rise out of Khan, is harmless prefight noise. No more, no less. Back to moral outrage in the UK. Interesting to note that while four British national newspapers are covering Garcia-Khan in Vegas, every British media outlet will give massive coverage to Chisora-Haye. Sure, it’s a freak show, not something for the so-called boxing purists. So here’s my advice for all six of you noseholders, ignore the all-British heavyweight hate match at Upton Park football grounds. Turn your attention to yachting or something more dainty if you prefer. Frank Warren has peddled 30,000 tickets for Chisora-Haye so he’s giving the public something it wants to see. Michael Buffer is the ring announcer and, when he does the intros, this may give new meaning to his trademarked phrase, “Let’s get ready to rumble.” It may not be extremely artistic but rumble they will. My weekend picks: Khan by UD 12 in a spirited fight where Amir’s experience makes the difference and Haye on a wide decision after 12 rounds.
