MACAU—They may not like each other, but opposing trainers Freddie Roach and Robert Garcia respect what each has done for boxing.
The 53-year-old Roach, of course, is still regarded as the best in the trade with Garcia tagged as his heir apparent.
They got involved in an altercation, which saw conditioning trainer Alex Ariza, kick Roach in the chest on Wednesday following an overlap of training schedules.
“He (Garcia) came to me and said ‘I’m sorry’ for what happened,” Roach, a five-time Trainer of the Year, told Filipino sportswriters Saturday. “He was nice and we’re both cordial. We wish it didn’t happen. But you know, he really wasn’t part of the altercation. He just got a little hot-speaking but he didn’t kick me. Someone else did.”
Roach was referring to Ariza, whom he booted out from Team Pacquiao before training camp started in August.
Ariza went on to join Team Rios and helped Garcia, who was named the 2012 Trainer of the Year, whip Rios into tiptop shape.
As a result of his assault on Roach, Ariza won’t be on Rios’ corner on Sunday.
Roach, on the other hand, will be joined by Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez and cutman Miguel Diaz in Pacquiao’s corner.