Something will be noticeably different for Manny Pacquiao when he makes his 2018 debut Saturday vs. Lucas Matthysse for Matthysse’s WBA welterweight title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
For the first time since 2001, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach will not be in Pacquiao's corner. Instead, childhood friend and longtime assistant trainer “Buboy” Fernandez will be the man in charge.
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Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) never told Roach he would be replacing him with Fernandez. Roach found out through the media that Pacquiao would be going in a different direction. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Roach admits he hasn't talked to Pacquiao since his unanimous decision loss to Jeff Horn last July. Roach feels it had something to do with a conversation they had in the locker room when the fight ended.
"You know, Manny, being a senator and being a world-champion boxer is very difficult," Roach said he told Pacquiao. "I know you’ve always multi-tasked, but you might want to think about doing one before the other."
After Roach finished his thought, Pacquiao didn't say a word.
“Manny, are you mad at me?” Roach asked him.
“He just smiled at me," Roach continued. "That was it. And I haven’t spoken to Manny Pacquiao since.”
Pacquiao hasn't committed to a fight beyond Matthysse because of his senatorial duties in the Philippines. When reached by the Los Angeles Times, Pacquiao said if he does compete again beyond Saturday's contest, he would open to reuniting with Roach. If the call does happen, Roach knows what he will do.
“Marriages haven’t lasted this long,” Roach said. “If Manny asked me to get on a jet and train him for free, I’d be the first one on the plane. We have a lot of history. Manny’s my friend. Money ... I have enough.”
