Manny Pacquiao fights July 19
Freddie and Marie Roach, and hundreds of guests from fighters to fans to friends converged on the Wild Card Boxing Club this past weekend for its 30-year anniversary. Things have been fun and frantic at the Hollywood gym which has produced dozens of world champions.
There are some other happenings that have ‘the house that Freddie built’ buzzing as well. Recently, a fighter sauntered through the door, said hello to his old coach, spent a few minutes catching up with some hugs and smiles, and then started doing what he does best – work.
Multiple world title champion and Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao recently returned to California to start training for his world title try against Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao will try to leave Sin City with Barrios’ WBC welterweight title.
A pleasant reminder of Pacquiao’s loyalty, in a business that is rife with fickle players, is that he has assembled the old team. Along with head trainer Roach, long-time assistant Marvin Somodio, and close friend Buoboy Fernandez, strength coach Justin Fortune, and long-time publicist Fred Sternburg are all back.
Manny, at 46 years old, is on a fight-at-a-time schedule. No matter how he does against Barrios, Pacquiao’s days in the ring will be selective. Father time remains unbeaten and undisputed. So, with that fact looming large in the atmosphere, most fighters wouldn’t be looking to give away any money they didn’t have to at this late stage of their career.
But friendship, loyalty, and tradition are hallmarks of Paqcuiao’s career and life choices. As a result, if he is fighting, he brings back the team that brought him to the big dance in the first place.
Whether Pacquiao can turn back the clock and prove he is indeed a champ, not just the people’s champ, remains to be seen. But, he will enter the ring with his familiar team around him – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
“It was like a time warp”, said ‘MP Promotions’ Sean Gibbons. “He walked into the gym, he and Freddie shared a hug and some laughs, spent a few minutes catching up and then it was back to work”, he said. “It was just like the old days”, said Gibbons. “They are doing what they do best together – training hard to win big fights”.
The old band is back together, rehearsals are going well, and they hope to make some beautiful new music on July 19.
