Freddie Roach News: Trainer Going To Court Against Former Colleague Alex Ariza
The legal rift between renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach and his former colleague, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, is getting more heated up as time progresses.
It all stemmed from Roach's previous comments in January of the previous year, where he claimed that Ariza was supplying "mystery drinks" to fighters back when the latter was still working at the Wild Card Gym in the late 2000's.
In a January 2014 interview with Fight Hype, Roach said that while he does accept the fact that he and Ariza will never get along as co-workers, what got to him were Ariza's alleged suspicious actions, particularly with Manny Pacquiao.
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The 55-year old trainer also claimed that Ariza was "very forceful" as a cornerman during fights, adding that he was surprised that fellow trainer Robert Garcia actually hired him after he left the Wild Card Gym. Ariza went on to work with former world champion Brandon Rios when he faced Pacquiao in November 2013.
"Everyone has their suspicions there because it's very unusual for the strength coach to be that close to the fighter," Roach said. "I mean, usually a cutman will work on a cut; that's a possibility."
Roach's statements had led Ariza to file a defamation lawsuit, in turn. But in a recent report by Fight Hype, it appears like the latter is looking to take things further. The two parties have been trying to straighten things out through settlement discussions.
But due to both Pacquiao and Roach's failure to appear at various deposition attempts, Ariza is now looking to take things to court. No specific date for the trial has been mentioned. The report adds that Roach had also faced the same defamation lawsuit from one of his former fighters, Justin Fortune.
Roach had made previous claims that Fortune was also on steroids. Ariza's most recent client was none other than retired undefeated boxer and Pacquiao's long-time rival, Floyd Mayweather Jr. He was present in the Mayweather camp during the May 2nd mega fight.
