Roach, Mexicans put row behind

DALLAS – Apology offered. Apology accepted.

Now, it’s time to focus on the fight, and get it on – in the ring.

“They apologized and I accepted their apology,” said Freddie Roach Thursday, referring to the camp of Antonio Margarito, who was shown on video mocking the legendary trainer and his Parkinson’s disease.

The other day, Roach said he caught a glimpse of the video, which showed Margarito, his trainer Robert Garcia and stablemate Brandon Rios having fun at the gym – at the expense of Manny Pacquiao’s trainer.

Roach said he had a hard time sleeping that night, and vowed never to talk to Garcia again.

But the gentle American trainer of champions, which now include British sensation Amir Khan and young Mexican treasure Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., has put it all behind him now.

“I have a fight coming up. I don’t want any more Freddie Roach stories. It’s about Manny Pacquiao. I want Manny to stay focused. It’s all behind us now. The fight is here.”

Earlier, during a press conference for Saturday’s undercard, Margarito looked and sounded sincere in issuing an apology.

“I want you to know I would never make fun of Freddie Roach or anyone with that disease. I have someone in my family who has it,” the 32-year-old Mexican was quoted as saying.

“I’ll tell you how it happened: There was a guy in the gym with a camera and he said, ‘Freddie Roach said you’re going to be knocked out.’ I shook my hands and said, ‘Oh, I’m really scared now,’” he said.

Reports said the “guy,” who posted the video online, has been banned from entering the gym, any gym from now on perhaps, where Margarito and Pacquiao train or would train.

Rios has also apologized, man enough to take responsibility for his actions and say, “I was wrong and I’m sorry.”

Garcia, who walks around the Gaylord Texan Hotel flanked by two men in Team Margarito uniforms, must have felt deeply sorry, too, that in the video he seemed to be having fun.

“He gave me what seemed like a very sincere apology,” Roach told Yahoo! Sports.