Why Freddie Roach isn't in LA to train Manny Pacquiao yet

Manny Pacquiao began his buildup for his May 2 mega-fight in Los Angeles on Monday, but there was an important personality absent from his training: Freddie Roach.

 

The Hall of Fame trainer is still in China to train Zou Shiming for an upcoming bout. But Roach said that it wasn't a problem with the Filipino ring icon.

 

"Manny told me I should be with Zou because he knows how important this fight is for him," Roach told ESPN.com. "The thing is, Manny is that type of guy. He cares about other people. He knows Shiming has a better chance to win if I’m there with him."

 

Roach's absence isn't expected to put much of a damper on Pacquiao's enthusiasm to train. He did some road work on his first day of camp before hitting the mitts with assistant trainer and childhood friend Buboy Fernandez.

 

For his part, Roach already has a plan in place for Pacquiao's first week.

 

"We'll have Justin Fortune doing strength work with him, and then we’ll begin the boxing part and start sparring." —JST, GMA News