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Sports

Roach stays with Pacman

- Abac Cordero -
There’s no need for Manny Pacquiao to conduct a loyalty check on Freddie Roach.

It’s because the celebrated American trainer has himself pledged his loyalty and allegiance to the sensational Filipino boxer, saying Pacquiao remains his "main fighter" and that "he’s my priority."

Roach told Fightnews.com that despite all the distractions going on around Pacquiao, his relationship with the 28-year-old Filipino remains solid, and that nothing, at this point, could come between them.

Roach was reacting to rumors that he had promised to bring Pacquiao to the Golden Boy fold in exchange for a job as Oscar dela Hoya’s trainer for his coming fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May.

"Absolutely false. I am still going to be Manny’s trainer, regardless of who he fights for. His choice of promoters is just that. His choice. Not mine," Roach told Fightnews.com.

"When Manny asks me for my opinion, I will give him an honest answer. What he does with that information is up to him. As far as training Oscar — I have other fighters like Manny and James (Toney) who are my priority," he added.

"They are why I was unable to work with Oscar back then, and it’s why I can’t work with him now. And the people who are saying that I tried to deliver Manny to Golden Boy Promotions — in order to become Oscar’s trainer — is an absolute lie," Roach added.

In his sixth year as Pacquiao’s trainer, Roach openly said that he wants the left-handed knockout artist to choose Golden Boy over Top Rank, the two outfits that are slugging it out for the promotional rights over the boxer.

Pacquiao signed a seven-fight contract with Golden Boy last September, but, in a sudden change of heart, signed a new one, a four-year deal with Bob Arum’s Top Rank.

A court case is set to evolve around the dispute, and Pacquiao is just getting caught in the crossfire, along with his American trainer.

"I have a gym full of fighters and I just can’t turn my back on them like that. I would never do that to any of my fighters. Manny is still my main fighter and he’s my priority," said Roach.

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BOB ARUM

FIGHTNEWS

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.

FREDDIE ROACH

GOLDEN BOY

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS

MANNY AND JAMES

PACQUIAO

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