It seems trouble is brewing between two key figures in the camp of Manny Pacquiao.
Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez are on a collision course as the two offered different takes as to whether or not Pacquiao will continue fighting, as per a report by Manila Bulletin.
“If I ever see signs of him slowing down, I’d be the first one to say it. Buboy said the other day that I don’t have the power to do that. Buboy, I don’t have the power to do that but my suggestion to him would be honest,” said Roach.
The tension came up after Pacquiao defeated Keith Thurman last August.
In a post-fight interview, Fernandez said it is him, and not Roach, who has the authority to decide whether or not Pacquiao should retire.
Fernandez’s pronouncement didn’t sit well with Roach.
“I am really pissed off that he said that about me,” said Roach.
Roach said that at 40 years old, it will already be detrimental for Pacquiao to continue fighting especially against younger opponents.
Roach and Fernandez both agreed if Pacquiao continues to fight, he should avoid Errol Spence and Terrence Crawford.
Spence, 29, is an International Boxing Federation champion, while Crawford, 31, holds a World Boxing Organization world title belt.
“There’s a couple of guys that maybe we should stay away from and these guys are young, young, young killers,” added Roach in the report by Nick Giongco.
Photo credit: THE MEGA AGENCY
