By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach left for the US late Monday hoping that Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao will keep his word and show up at the Wild Card Gym on May 13th to begin training for his battle with former two-time super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

In a conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today prior to his departure for Los Angeles, Roach said he had spoken to Pacquiao by telephone and that the world’s most exciting fighter had promised to leave by May 13th at the latest. Roach vowed “I promise you if he’s not on the plane I’ll catch the first flight to Manila and come and get him myself.”

Pacquiao has postponed his departure for the US and the start of training more than once and this has caused concern in his camp, particularly among Roach and Pacquiao’s management team headed by Shelly Finkel.

Roach said when he spoke to Pacquiao the fighter was in Cebu attending a six cock derby which he reportedly hosted. The trainer who is largely credited with turning Pacquiao into a fighting machine and was instrumental in his success, clearly did not been avoiding Larios whose manager Rafael Mendoza insisted Larios was better than both Mexicans. approve of Pacquiao;s involvement in cockfighting and gambling and was quietly concerned about some of the individuals around Pacquiao.

Roach earlier warned that Larios was a  dangerous opponent whom Pacquiao cannot afford to take lightly. Larios who put on a  brief workout at the ABS-CBN studios last Friday looked to be in good shape besides being bigger and taller than Pacquiao.

Roach revealed that both Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik “El Terrible” Morales had avoided fighting Larios whose manager Rafael Mendoza insisted Larios was better than both legendary Mexicans. Mendoza said “I believe Larios is better than Morales and Barrera that’s why he can beat Pacquiao. I believe he has the stamina and the guts to face Pacquiao. Those are the things Barrera and Morales didn’t have.”