Bob Arum angered at controversial video
A controversial video featuring boxer Antonio Margarito and his entourage has caught the attention of promoter Bob Arum.
Arum, who promotes Margarito, caught wind of the troubling video yesterday. It featured Margarito, trainer Robert Garcia and upcoming prospect Brandon Rios allegedly making fun of legendary trainer Freddie Roach for having Parkinson’s disease.
Roach will put his talents on the line this weekend when his fighter Manny Pacquiao, considered by most the best boxer on the planet, takes on Margarito at the Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.
"I didn't see the video until it was pointed out to me,” Arum said. “It was sent as an e-mail, and we put it on and we watched it in the room, my wife and myself. And I immediately confronted Garcia, Rios and Margarito about it."
"They apologized to me, personally and profusely. And they said that they would apologize to Freddie Roach at the press conference [...] and Rios will apologize [at the undercard press conference] Thursday."
The words are a stunning twist for two camps that have been mutually respectful of each other in past weeks. Roach indicated he would not tell Pacquiao about the incident because he didn’t want to anger him so close to the fight date.
Pacquiao will be looking for his eighth title in as many divisions, a feat hitherto unprecedented in professional boxing.
Roach is considered one of the greatest trainers of all time. He routinely wins awards for his tutelage, and is sought out by many of the best fighters in the world. Presently he trains Pacquiao, WBA junior welterweight king Amir Khan, and upcoming prospect
Vanes Martirosyan.
Roach was also a fighter but has carved out his reputation as a trainer. He can be found at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Tags: