Roach, Ariza, Rios trainer figure in scuffle

MANILA, Philippines – Reports from media in Macau say Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach got into an altercation with his counterpart Robert Garcia and Pacquiao’s former strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza at a gym there.

Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, quoting witnesses, said the fight started at 11 a.m. when Roach entered the gym for Pacquiao’s workout. By then, Brandon Rios just wrapped up his training.

Roach reportedly demanded Garcia to leave the gym immediately, but the latter asked for some time to wrap things up, to which the former disagreed.

Then shoving between the two trainers followed. Ariza, who had a nasty falling out with Roach that resulted to his firing as Pacquiao’s conditioning guru a few months ago, reportedly also got involved in the scuffle.

Ariza, reports added, kicked Roach in the chest, which according to him was in response to Pacquiao’s trainer threatening to punch him.

Neither Pacquiao nor Rios were involved in the incident.

"We were just 6 or 7 minutes over time. We were wrapping it up and Manny wasn't there yet,” said Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels, who is also part of the Rios camp.

Police have reportedly trooped to the gym.

Pacquiao and Rios will face each other on Sunday at the Cotai Arena of the Venetian Macao. - With report from Abac Cordero