MACAU – Stringent security measures will be implemented in the days leading to the Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios fight in the wake of the fracas that erupted between the trainers of both camps.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said added security is going to be employed starting Thursday at the gym when Rios and Pacquiao are again expected to train one after the other.
“We got a lot extra security that we have put on and hopefully, we won’t have any further incident,” said Arum.
They Said It!
"When you have an incident like this, it reinforces their belief that people in boxing are hooligans." - Bob Arum
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach had a verbal tussle with counterpart Robert Garcia on Wednesday after the Rios camp's training session overlapped into the training time of the Filipino boxing icon.
Alex Ariza, the former strength and conditioning coach of Pacquiao, made things worse when he jumped into the fray and even kicked Roach in the midsection that almost led to a full-blown riot.
Arum said he hopes everything has finally calmed down after Top Rank people talked to both camps.
“Hopefully, it will be,” said the 81-year-old boxing promoter.
To keep the tension from escalating further, Arum disclosed they’ve already asked the camp of Rios not to allow Ariza to check gloves and be involved in any pre-fight stuff.
“And Robert Garcia agreed on it,” added Arum, who said the fight had a lot to do with what the trainers have been saying about each other as well as the animosity that Ariza has for Roach.
Arum said despite the excitement the incident stirred in the days leading to the Sunday bout between Pacquiao and Rios, the longtime boxing promoter still stressed the skirmish is not good for the sport.
“It’s not in the best interest of the sport because a lot of people look at boxing and say there is a hooligan element in boxing, and when you have an incident like this, it reinforces their belief that people in boxing are hooligans,” said Arum.
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