Team Pacquiao: McMillan the man, or the odd man out?

By Dennis Principe

IS conditioning coach Gavin McMillan in or out of Team Manny Pacquiao?
 
It depends on who you’re talking to knowing that the Filipino boxing sensation has a number of people speaking on his behalf, authorized or otherwise.
 
Boxingscene however was able to confer with personalities within the camp who are known to have spoken about past decisions that had the blessings of Pacquiao.
 
One of them is Michael Koncz, the assiduous adviser who’s been exuding an aura of credibility as he seems to be the one when you want to talk about Pacquiao’s plans.
 
Regarding McMillan, Koncz sounded cold about having the Biomechanics specialist into the team.
 
Initially, Koncz worked on getting Pacquiao’s former conditioning coach Justin Fortune back into their fold but immigration and some business commitments prevented the California-based Australian from travelling to the Philippines.
 
Koncz then later said Pacquiao sees no problem completing their latest training camp with Nonoy Neri and Buboy Fernandez doing the job vacated by Alex Ariza.
 
“Gavin is not going to be part of our team, at this point in time. He will be here only for (Zou) Shiming. I asked Manny about Gavin and he said no, we’re fine with Nonoy and Buboy,” said Koncz.
 
Fernandez meantime said he welcomes anyone who can be of help to their training camp provided that “he won’t make major changes on what we are currently doing.”
 
Freddie Roach, recognized as the man in charge when it comes to training, would still like to see McMillan do his stuff on Pacquiao as the five-time trainer of the year remains concerned about some nagging injuries on the multi-division world champion.
 
“He’ll help all guys here and that should be good for the camp. I think it is important if he can take the pain away from Manny. Gavin is much more qualified than any athletic trainer I’ve seen,” said Roach “He’s way ahead of Justin Fortune. He’s been with six training camps with me and we’ve won all those fights.”
 
Question is, is McMillan too pricey for someone who’s got a highly-regarded resume?
 
“Of course I’ll use him for Manny, even for free. I may talk with Michael Koncz about it and know where the problem is, but I don’t want to create one. But the thing is, result is what we care about,” said Roach.
 
In the same interview, Roach specified that Pacquiao at times is still bothered by back pains while doing his roadwork and that he believes McMillan is the right man to take care of the issue and prepare Pacquiao to be at his best for his November 24 brawl opposite Brandon Rios at Venetian Hotel’s Cotai Arena in Macau.
 
“He does a good job, Manny will appreciate it. If he can take the pain away from the back and make him run for 45 minutes instead of 28-minute run, that’s what we need for big title fights,” added Roach.
 
McMillan is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines Tuesday morning together with Filipino trainer and Roach protégé Marvin Somodio.
 
Boxingscene then asked Pacquiao himself regarding the verdict on McMillan.
 
“It depends on coach Freddie. Whatever his decision about our training camp, I’ll do it,” said Pacquiao.
 
So there.