Manny sticks to Freddie

Two-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao told trusted aide Buboy Fernandez yesterday he is not turning his back on trainer Freddie Roach despite brickbats hurled by estranged New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad’s camp to discredit the Wild Card gym proprietor.

Muhammad’s camp has accused Roach of not making adjustments when Erik Morales began to pile up points en route to scoring a unanimous 12-round decision over Pacquiao in Las Vegas last March 19. Roach has also been cited for veering Pacquiao away from Muhammad and influencing his decision to sign up with new manager Shelly Finkel.

Muhammad himself has minced no words in lashing out at Roach for allegedly trying to get involved in Pacquiao’s business affairs.

It was no surprise that when Muhammad was recently asked to provide a trainer for Filipino fighters Z Gorres and Gerry Peñalosa in the US, he recommended somebody else–James (Buddy) McGirt in Florida.

But Fernandez, who worked Pacquiao’s corner with Roach against Morales, said there will be no change in the training team.

"Walang problema sa team namin," said Fernandez. "Ang problema ay ang dating management ni Manny."

Fernandez said Pacquiao was distracted by internal squabbles stemming from financial disagreements with Muhammad.

Asked why Pacquiao did not attack Morales’ body persistently, Fernandez explained the situation became tenuous when Pacquiao was cut by an accidental headbutt in the fifth round.

"Sa first round, kinatawan ni Manny si Morales," said Fernandez. "Tapos, nilaro-laro niya si Morales from the second to the fourth round. ‘Yan ang fight plan. Noong naputukan si Manny sa fifth round, nagbago na ang plano kasi biglang, nagkaroon ng advantage si Morales."

Fernandez meant with the fight in danger of being stopped by referee Joe Cortez because of the cut, Pacquiao had to step up the pace and go for a knockout. Morales, however, proved to be a tough nut to crack.

After nine rounds, Morales was ahead only by a point in the three judges scorecards. So it came down to who would win the last three rounds. The judges gave the 10th and 11th to Morales and 12th to Pacquiao. If Pacquiao had taken either the 10th or 11th, the fight would’ve been a draw.

Boxing News editor Claude Abrams, reporting from ringside, saw it a 114-all draw.

Abrams said the loss will not diminish Pacquiao’s credibility or earning potential. "The Filipino is a star in his own right," noted Abrams in the March 25 issue of the London weekly trade paper. He quoted Top Rank promoter Bob Arum as saying, "Pacquiao has brought a different element to boxing–he has brought 2.5 million Filipinos who live in the US."

Abrams said Morales’s sense of urgency was evident from the onset.

"A loss would be utterly devastating on the back of his majority points defeat by (Marco Antonio) Barrera," said Abrams. "With that in mind and wanting to bounce back impressively, Morales (was) nothing short of the most supreme."

Morales had more to lose than Pacquiao and it showed in the way he stood his ground. Still, the fight was close even if Morales deserved the verdict, said Abrams.

The closest either fighter came to scoring a knockdown was in the final round when Pacquiao shook Morales with a left.

"Tit for tat, they swapped blows, blasting each other with big lefts and hooks until Pacquiao came through more forcefully, shaking the Mexican to his boots briefly with a thudding left," wrote Abrams. "Morales took it but it was the closest the match came to delivering a knockdown. Pacquiao followed up immediately, pounding Morales to the ropes and until the final bell, they went at it back and forth."