Manny Pacquiao conditioning coach keeps his job amid rumors of exit

Manny Pacquiao keeps Alex Ariza as coach

Manny Pacquiao will keep his current boxing team intact with the announcement that his strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza will keep his job.

Ariza has been rumored to be leaving Pacquiao's camp but trainer Freddie Roach dispelled the rumors saying that "everything is great, real fine."

Both Roach and Ariza will be arriving in the Philippines to help Manny Pacquiao get ready for his next fight against Sugar Shane Mosley.

Ariza has been with Team Pacquiao since 2008 when the boxer won against David Diaz. The Filipino champion subsequently beat Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton with Ariza as his conditioning coach.

Earlier, Ariza expressed confidence that he will remain with the team as Pacquiao prepares to face Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Promoter Bob Arum confirmed that "everything is rolling along" and that the whole team is getting ready. The Top Rank chief said he was "delighted that Manny is training seriously because I don't care whatever anybody says. This is going to be Manny's toughest fight."

That may well be for now, but the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the one which has been eagerly awaited by boxing fans. The two boxers have failed to agree on contract terms previously and a fight was cancelled.

Pacquiao said he was still open to fighting Mayweather but if that does not happen then he is happy to retire. Mayweather Jr., who is facing legal problems, may still be interested to settle the matter about who is the best pound-for-pound king.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s uncle Jeff, recently claimed that he is negotiating the mega-fight to be held in South Africa in July between his nephew and Manny Pacquiao.

Posted by Andre Monohan on Thursday March 03 2011, 5:00 AM EST. Ref: Inquirer. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0