By Lem Satterfield
Freddie Roach, trainer of WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), believes the numerous distractions that affected their training camp in Bagiuo City, Philippines have been eliminated. In less than two weeks, Pacquiao will rise to the junior middleweight division to face Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) for the vacant WBC title at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. A week ago, Roach and Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles to finish up the training camp at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
"There are so many fewer distractions. This is always where he prepares himself for the big fights. This is our home base. This is where his comfort zone is. This is where he knows that the fight is getting really close. This is where we always start to get the most serious," Roach said.
"This is where everything begins. Like I said, there are a lot less distractions here in Los Angeles. There are not as many officials and no politicians coming in to drag him out and stuff like that."
While Pacquiao's camp was dealing with numerous distractions, Margarito was training for the fight of his life. Trainer Robert Garcia has the former three-time welterweight champion in superb physical condition. In some of the recent photos and videos to come out of his training camp, Margarito's body was chiseled and ripped for battle.
Roach is tired of hearing about Margarito's physical conidtion and his ripped body. At the end of the day, Roach is confident that Pacquiao's skills will overcome Margarito, regardless of how big or how muscular the Mexican fighter's body appears.
"I mean, who gives a sh**. I mean, really? Who cares? I'm just trying to get my guy ready. He's getting ready for a world title fight. That's what he's supposed to be in, great shape. But I don't give a sh** what he does," Roach said.
"I don't care about Antonio Margarito. I don't care if he fights at 175 pounds. Who cares? I mean, he's getting ready for a world title fight. If he doesn't get ready, then he's a fool. That's what people do. He's doing what he's supposed to do. The thing that I hear is that he's in great shape. But like I said before, he should be in shape for a world title fight."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here .
