By Steve Kim
This has not been an easy stretch for Freddie Roach as he prepares Manny Pacquiao for the biggest fight of their lives on May 2nd versus Floyd Mayweather. Years of toiling in the gym seem to be taking it's toll on the body of the 55-year old trainer.
"It's holding up OK, it's a lot of bad luck," said Roach on Friday afternoon regarding the timing of these physical ailments he is suffering.
"But it's a pinched nerve and my nervous system is getting a little clogged up, right now. I have a problem with my C-5 and I have a problem with my neck with two bulges and two pinched nerves up there but it doesn't slow me down."
There is no rest for the weary at the Wild Card Boxing Club.
"I did 15 rounds on mitts with Manny yesterday, no problem, I can still catch and everything's OK. The only rule is that I changed is I'm not going to let anyone hit me in the face anymore because that's just too much for me" said Roach, who explained he will not be working the corner on the night of April 18th when Ruslan Provodnikov faces Lucas Matthysse.
And it's more a matter of prioritizing than health to Roach, who said - "I'm in the biggest fight in the history of boxing so I have to be close with Manny at that time. I will not be at Ruslan's fight but he's in good hands with Marvin (Somodio). He'll be fine."
Somodio, took charge of Provodnikov's corner in October of 2013 when they defeated Mike Alvarado, as Roach was in the Philippines attending to Pacquiao before his fight versus Brandon Rios.
Right after May 2nd, Roach will move right to Miguel Cotto who is scheduled to go in early June.
"He's got a fight coming up and hopefully he'll get a big fight and he'll get a big fight in September," he said. "So I'm excited."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
