Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao is planning to address any friction inside of his camp - after rehiring Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
Earlier this year, Pacquiao parted ways with Roach after 16 years of working together.
After that breakup, Pacquiao elevated best friend and assistant coach Buboy Fernandez to the position of head trainer.
In his first bout with Buboy as head coach, Pacquiao demolished Lucas Matthysse in July to capture the WBA "regular" welterweight title. It was Pacquiao's first knockout win since November of 2009.
Pacquiao is now scheduled to face Adrien Broner on January 19th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, on Showtime Pay-Per-View. The contest will be Pacquiao's first bout in the United States in over two years.
To prepare for that fight, Pacquiao decided to rehire Roach as a training camp "supervisor." They met on Wednesday night in Los Angeles and worked out the details.
According to reporter Nick Giongco of Tempo, two of Pacquiao's key camp members - Buboy and conditioning coach Justin Fortune - are not overly pleased with Roach coming back - believing that it's going to crack the atmosphere of the team.
“That’ll be okay,” Pacquiao said to Tempo. “I will talk to them (Fernandez and Fortune)."
Fortune told the paper that Roach's return “makes for a bad camp. It’s going to be toxic.”
Roach confirmed that he's already received a contract to work the fight.
“There’s been a contract each fight. It’s always been that way. Nothing different. I told my lawyer (Nick Khan) what to put in the contract and what Manny told me. They have the contract and everyone’s happy. No problem,” said Roach.
Roach also said he doesn't have any issues with Buboy or Fortune.
“We are a team,” said Roach, noting that Fernandez “did a good job in the last fight (with Matthysse). He’s not a problem.”