Fernandez ready to fill Roach’s shoes if picked Pacquiao’s head trainer

Manny Pacquiao trains inside the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood with trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

By the looks of it, Buboy Fernandez will be Manny Pacquiao’s chief cornerman against Lucas Matthysse on July 15.

If that’s going to be the case, Fernandez has big shoes to fill in a role that had belonged to the Hall of Famer Freddie Roach since Pacquiao’s US debut in 2001.

Fernandez said he’s up for the challenge.

“I’m always ready. The captain of the ship is not here and as assistant it’s my responsibility to play that role,” said Fernandez in Filipino. “The final word will come from our senator (Manny Pacquiao), but the important thing is that I’m going to start the training.”

Fernandez is not only a fixture throughout Pacquiao’s boxing career, but he’s also the eight-division champion’s best friend.

On Monday, Pacquiao back-pedalled from his earlier announcement that Fernandez and Nonoy Neri will be his trainers for his fight against Matthysse on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

During the first stop of his press tour at City of Dreams Manila, Pacquiao said he still hasn’t decided yet as to who his head trainer will be.

Pacquiao added that even if he picks Fernandez over Roach, the door will stay open for the American coach in his future fights.

“Freddie and I have a good relationship. We’re like family. I’ve not decided yet. Whatever decision I make, still I’m not closing the door on Freddie,” he said. “Whatever decision I will make, it’s just because I want to try Buboy to handle me. But right now, I don’t have a decision yet because I’m still not in training mode. I’m still in press tour mode.”

Under Roach’s tutelage, Pacquiao defied the odds and made history with seven world titles in as many divisions.

Fernandez doesn’t have the accolades of Roach, who is a seven-time trainer of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, but Pacquiao is confident that Fernandez has what it takes to get the job done.

“I believe Buboy can do it, can handle it. He knows what to do because Buboy has worked with me since the beginning.”

Fernandez said he’s nowhere near the stature of Roach, whom he describes as “the greatest trainer in the world.”

“Coach Freddie is legendary and I can’t compare myself to coach Freddie. I don’t think I’m going to see a trainer as great as him.”