Both camps remain at odds after melee

MACAU – Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios kept the distance between them during Wednesday evening’s press conference at The Venetian.

Just a few hours before the final presser for Sunday’s fight, their chief trainers figured in an altercation over the use of the gym inside the hotel.

There was a lot of pushing, cursing and shoving, all caught on video.

Alex Ariza, who moved to the Rios camp after being booted out of Team Pacquiao, let it all out when he kicked Freddie Roach near the mid-section.

Ariza kicked like he wanted to bring a brick wall down.

The animosity was still in the air when the press conference started with Bob Arum introducing the key members of the two teams.

Each one had a brief moment at the microphone

Rob Garcia, chief trainer of Rios, brought the topic up, and suggested that people come visit a website that had posted a video of the altercation.

“From start to finish it showed what really happened,” said Garcia, who also asked why the other media outfits have not posted or brought up what really happened.

Garcia must have focused on the one website he liked because in fact, video footages of the incident were all over the internet yesterday.

Even Filipino television channels and online new portal Rappler, which were on the scene, had either shown or posted their respective videos.

Garcia even asked how HBO’s 24/7 would treat the incident.

Roach took his turn at the microphone and said that the website which Garcia mentioned was either owned or ran by the latter’s friend.

“He edited it (footage) for him (Garcia),” Roach said.

Then Roach thanked Pacquiao for working hard in training, and closed his very short speech by saying, “Sunday, no problem.”

Rios didn’t agree.

“I’m going to be a big problem. They think I’m no problem. I’m going to be a big problem,” he said. “A new star is on the rise. I’m not going to stop. I’m a monster.”

Pacquiao called a halt to the trash-talking,  

“No trash-talk. It’s not a good example to people who admire boxing. This is a sport. Nothing personal,” he said.

Then he called on the fans to watch Sunday’s fight because it’s going to be a great fight.

“Don’t miss it,” he said.

During the staredown, Pacquiao and Rios stood face to face, a foot or two of space in between them. Despite calls from photographers to come “closer,” they held their ground.

They parted ways without shaking hands.

Animosity is in the air. That makes great fights.