HERES THE STORY. Its the talk of the town in Macau. Days before Sundays main event between Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios, their coaches take the spotlight. It all starts when Pacquiaos trainer Freddie Roach enters the Venetian Hotel gym at around 11am. He see Rios camp still training. Rios reserved the gym from 9 to 11am. Pacqiuao has the gym from 11-4pm. Rios training started late because of an ESPN interview. Roach approaches Rios trainer Robert Garcia, and tells them to leave. Garcia, refuses, angering Roach. Other members of Rios camp jump in. One of them: Pacquiaos former conditioning coach Alex Ariza. He makes fun of Roachs Parkinsons disease. Ariza kicks Roach so hard his shoe flies off. Security try to break up the fight. Roach verbally attacks Rios camp assistant Donald Leary. Leary finds the slur racist, and attempts to attack Roach. He is held back by security. Ariza also picks on Pacquiaos new conditioning coach, Gavin McMillan, who refuses to engage. McMillan asks for security to call police. Saying Ariza kicking roach is assault. Rios stays out of the scuffle and watches entertained. Rios laughing, Ariza is unapologetic. ALEX ARIZA, RIOS CONDITIONING COACH: Im not a physical person, the only reason I did is because you saw him, he cocked his fist back and to me that was a threat he was gonna punch me. Believe me if I wanted to get physical I wouldve gotten physical. Roach denies he went after Ariza. FREDDIE ROACH, PACQUIAOS TRAINER: Everyone has his own opinion. [Q: Were you gonna hit him?] I wasnt even close enough to hit him but no. Rapplers video shows Roach only took a step towards Ariza. Bad blood exists between the two because Roach fired Ariza after Pacquiaos last fight. Roach calls Ariza incompetent and questions his background. ROACH: He doesnt know what hes doing and hes been fired 7 times by 7 different groups and theres a reason hes been fired and its because hes a bad guy. His knowledge of sports is very limited. Garcia says Roach was disrespectful. ROBERT GARCIA, RIOS TRAINER: He couldve just sat down, waited, his fighter is actually not even here. He could even be wrapping his hands, I dont give a f*** if theyre wrapping their hands together its not like going to see anything from him doing that machine. Boxing promoter Bob Arum says he hasnt seen anything like this in his years in the business. BOB ARUM, BOXING PROMOTER: I cant remember a situation with two trainers started fighting or a situation where a conditioning coach attacks the trainer of the other camp. I mean boxing has enough problems without having hooligan behavior. Both camps claim, the rumble wont affect their fights. NATASHYA GUTIERREZ, REPORTING: Roach says he wont pursue charges against Ariza so the team does not get distracted. But its clear the stakes are now higher for both camps, with injured pride and personal animosity thrown into the ring. Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler, Macau.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 15:29:16 +0000
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