Could there be trouble brewing between the co-trainers of World Boxing Association welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao?
According to the Manila Bulletin, there appears to be an internal rumble shaking up between Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez.
The two trainers recently worked side by side, to prepare Pacquiao for his spectacular twelve round decision win over Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, now 40-years-old, is still capable of performing at the elite level.
However, Roach would be the first to advise him to retire - if he saw the eight division champion slowing down.
But, Buboy conducted an interview where he told several reporters that Roach would have absolutely no power when it came to persuading Pacquiao to retire.
That statement struck a nerve with Roach.
“If I ever see signs of him slowing down, I’d be the first one to say it. Buboy said the other day that I don’t have the power to do that. Buboy, I don’t have the power to do that but my suggestion to him would be honest. I am really pissed off that he said that about me,” said Roach to The Manila Bulletin.
Roach explained further that he would keep Pacquiao away from the heavy hitters of the welterweight division.
“There’s a couple of guys that maybe we should stay away from and these guys are young, young, young killers,” said Roach, in reference to Spence and Crawford.
“If Manny sucks it up what he did in the last fight and shows these young guys how it’s all about…I mean, it’s just not over yet because his health is good, his mind."