By David Tyler, Doghouse Boxing
(Sept 1, 2009)
PART I
Once again doghouseboxing.com visits the WildCard Gym in Hollywood, California. The assignment? What’s up with Manny Pacquiao? Let’s hear what boxing’s greatest trainer has to say about his star pupil. Why is Freddie Roach not in the International Boxing Hall of Fame?
David Tyler- Freddie, the Ninja is the biggest star in the sport today, maybe even bigger than Oscar or Tyson on a Global Level?
Freddie Roach ?At this stage of his career I would tend to agree with that statement. He was always popular in the Philippines and certainly the wins over De La Hoya and Hatton have propelled him into another level, and that level is the Pound for Pound Champion. That title alone has the prestige that the title “Heavyweight Champion of the World?used to carry.
DT ?Fred, where is Manny training now?
FR ?He’s not in training. He is making his eighth action movie in the Philippines. He is enjoying life.
DT ?What?
FR ?Well right now I’m having a lot of trouble getting in touch with him. His advisor, Michael Konz, is making all the decisions and he doesn’t want to consult me, he was quoted in the papers as saying that Freddie Roach is only the trainer we don’t need him. So I got a little ticked off about that comment.
DT ?Fred, is he one of the two non-Filipinos that was telling everyone that the Hatton/ Pacquiao 24/7 was devoting too much time about you and not the Ninja?
FR ?I heard that he making those kinds of statements during the Hatton training camp.
DT ?Freddie, is Michael Konz a lawyer?
FR ?No, he is not a lawyer, he is a secretary.
DT ?What does he know about boxing?
FR ?Nothing.
DT ?Fred, when someone reaches the very top level in the world of entertainment, there will be many vampires out there looking to suck the money out of them?
FR- Of course, I have seen many fighters, like Mike Tyson lose everything because they place their trust in others who do nothing but kiss their butts all day long.
DT ?I would think the Ninja would stick with you and have Filipino advisors?
FR ?You would think, wouldn’t you? Michael Konz came to my gym trying to get me to train Ike Ibeabuchi when he gets out of prison and Manny was training that day. I introduced him to Manny so somehow he hooked up with Manny as an advisor. He even told Bob Arum that we don’t need to run things past Freddie Roach, he is merely a trainer. Obviously, I was not pleased when Bob told me that news. Michael Konz is not showing me any respect with talk like that and I believe he is working off his own agenda and not the agenda of Team Pacquiao?
DT ?When the Ninja starts training will it still be in the Philippines or another location?
FR ?I’m not pleased with him training in the Philippines, there are too many distractions, but that’s what he wants to my understanding, and I believe he is taking this fight too lightly. Mark my words this will be the toughest fight of his life. It’s the people around him like Michael Konz who are telling him this will be an easy fight and not to worry. Instead of names I will say his advisors are telling him that Miguel Cotto is done, he is finished, and that’s pure bullcrap. I have been watching countless hours again and again of Cotto’s past fights. He nullified Shane Mosley’s speed and that’s Manny’s greatest asset also, he has proven he knows how to deal with speed and everyone around Manny is taking the fight way too lightly. So yes, I’m a little pissed off at his advisors.
DT ?Fred, I want to be clear about one issue, Manny is making a movie and not training?
FR ?At this point yes. I called Michael Konz and asked him if Manny has started conditioning his body for training camp and he said he didn’t know. I then asked Konz if Manny has told him where he will train in the Philippines and he said I haven’t asked him yet and I blew my top because Cotto has been in serious training for a month now. We haven’t even started yet and we have no idea where we are going? It’s absurd.
DT ?Freddie, do you feel that these problems could have been avoided if he was at home here at WildCard?
FR ?Certainly, this is his home away from home. This is where we get ready for every fight but the immigration laws will not allow us to train here until three weeks before the fight. So if I have to go to the Philippines, I will do my job and get him ready for the fight but I prefer Mexico because it is close and I have had offers from several resorts in Mexico that would be much closer to home and away from the many distractions in the Philippines. In any case we will be ready for the fight and we do have those three weeks to prepare for the fight in this gym.
DT ?Do you feel that you will be able to wrestle control of Manny from Team Konz when you get the Ninja in training camp?
FR ?Of course, 100% yes! Manny is smart and he will listen to me. This has happened before and we work things out. I just feel that I should have access to my fighter and I’m not getting that when we are thousands of miles apart.
DT ?When will you see the Ninja again?
FR ?September the 8th because we start the press tours the 9th. We will be in Los Angeles on the 14th.
(Sept 1, 2009)
PART I
Once again doghouseboxing.com visits the WildCard Gym in Hollywood, California. The assignment? What’s up with Manny Pacquiao? Let’s hear what boxing’s greatest trainer has to say about his star pupil. Why is Freddie Roach not in the International Boxing Hall of Fame?
David Tyler- Freddie, the Ninja is the biggest star in the sport today, maybe even bigger than Oscar or Tyson on a Global Level?
Freddie Roach ?At this stage of his career I would tend to agree with that statement. He was always popular in the Philippines and certainly the wins over De La Hoya and Hatton have propelled him into another level, and that level is the Pound for Pound Champion. That title alone has the prestige that the title “Heavyweight Champion of the World?used to carry.
DT ?Fred, where is Manny training now?
FR ?He’s not in training. He is making his eighth action movie in the Philippines. He is enjoying life.
DT ?What?
FR ?Well right now I’m having a lot of trouble getting in touch with him. His advisor, Michael Konz, is making all the decisions and he doesn’t want to consult me, he was quoted in the papers as saying that Freddie Roach is only the trainer we don’t need him. So I got a little ticked off about that comment.
DT ?Fred, is he one of the two non-Filipinos that was telling everyone that the Hatton/ Pacquiao 24/7 was devoting too much time about you and not the Ninja?
FR ?I heard that he making those kinds of statements during the Hatton training camp.
DT ?Freddie, is Michael Konz a lawyer?
FR ?No, he is not a lawyer, he is a secretary.
DT ?What does he know about boxing?
FR ?Nothing.
DT ?Fred, when someone reaches the very top level in the world of entertainment, there will be many vampires out there looking to suck the money out of them?
FR- Of course, I have seen many fighters, like Mike Tyson lose everything because they place their trust in others who do nothing but kiss their butts all day long.
DT ?I would think the Ninja would stick with you and have Filipino advisors?
FR ?You would think, wouldn’t you? Michael Konz came to my gym trying to get me to train Ike Ibeabuchi when he gets out of prison and Manny was training that day. I introduced him to Manny so somehow he hooked up with Manny as an advisor. He even told Bob Arum that we don’t need to run things past Freddie Roach, he is merely a trainer. Obviously, I was not pleased when Bob told me that news. Michael Konz is not showing me any respect with talk like that and I believe he is working off his own agenda and not the agenda of Team Pacquiao?
DT ?When the Ninja starts training will it still be in the Philippines or another location?
FR ?I’m not pleased with him training in the Philippines, there are too many distractions, but that’s what he wants to my understanding, and I believe he is taking this fight too lightly. Mark my words this will be the toughest fight of his life. It’s the people around him like Michael Konz who are telling him this will be an easy fight and not to worry. Instead of names I will say his advisors are telling him that Miguel Cotto is done, he is finished, and that’s pure bullcrap. I have been watching countless hours again and again of Cotto’s past fights. He nullified Shane Mosley’s speed and that’s Manny’s greatest asset also, he has proven he knows how to deal with speed and everyone around Manny is taking the fight way too lightly. So yes, I’m a little pissed off at his advisors.
DT ?Fred, I want to be clear about one issue, Manny is making a movie and not training?
FR ?At this point yes. I called Michael Konz and asked him if Manny has started conditioning his body for training camp and he said he didn’t know. I then asked Konz if Manny has told him where he will train in the Philippines and he said I haven’t asked him yet and I blew my top because Cotto has been in serious training for a month now. We haven’t even started yet and we have no idea where we are going? It’s absurd.
DT ?Freddie, do you feel that these problems could have been avoided if he was at home here at WildCard?
FR ?Certainly, this is his home away from home. This is where we get ready for every fight but the immigration laws will not allow us to train here until three weeks before the fight. So if I have to go to the Philippines, I will do my job and get him ready for the fight but I prefer Mexico because it is close and I have had offers from several resorts in Mexico that would be much closer to home and away from the many distractions in the Philippines. In any case we will be ready for the fight and we do have those three weeks to prepare for the fight in this gym.
DT ?Do you feel that you will be able to wrestle control of Manny from Team Konz when you get the Ninja in training camp?
FR ?Of course, 100% yes! Manny is smart and he will listen to me. This has happened before and we work things out. I just feel that I should have access to my fighter and I’m not getting that when we are thousands of miles apart.
DT ?When will you see the Ninja again?
FR ?September the 8th because we start the press tours the 9th. We will be in Los Angeles on the 14th.
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