'Alex Ariza kicked me in the chest' - Roach

 

Manny Pacquiao's long-time trainer Freddie Roach confirmed that former strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza kicked him on the chest, before denying that he hurled racist remarks against Brandon Rios' team on Wednesday, as the two camps figured in an altercation in Macau.

 

Roach granted Balitanghali's Connie Sison a live interview Wednesday morning, clarifying what happened in the scuffle between the two camps earlier that day:

 

"What is racist," asked Roach. "I said what are you a Mexican tough guy. Is that racist? I call you a Philippine reporter. Is that racist?

 

"I got struck by Alex Ariza. He kicked me in the chest," added Roach, who intimated that the race card was being used because he's Caucasian.

 

"Is that [the racist accusations] coz I'm a white guy?" Roach added. "You make the race issue such a big deal. That was way after the fact."

 

Roach added that it was Robert Garcia, Brandon Rios' trainer who started the altercation:

 

"Robert Garcia was on our time. They said 'we're not leaving for half an hour'. I said our gym time is from 11 o'clock everyday. He said i dont give a f---. He said don't disrespect us. I said you're disrespecting me coz this is our time."

The rival camps share just one gym for their training for Sunday's bout.
 

Roach added that after the exchange with Garcia, Ariza came over to mock his disease, before kicking him in the chest.

 

"And then Alex Ariza comes over starts making fun of my Parkinson's [disease]. Then he kicks me in [sic] the chest then runs away," Roach recalled. 


In one video footage of the incident, Ariza was heard mocking Roach's speech difficulties, saying, "Get over here, you stuttering prick!"

However, when asked if he was going to file a lawsuit against Ariza, Roach said no:

 

"Someone told me it might affect the fight. I don't sue people."

Ariza used to be the strength coach of Pacquiao, until Roach fired him, with Pacquiao's approval, last September. Neither of the two boxers, Pacquiao or Rios, were near the brawl when it occurred. - AMD, GMA News