:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/23563823/bzflos7iyaagygg.0.jpg)
Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, Brandon Rios' trainer Robert Garcia, and former Pacquiao and current Rios strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza were reportedly involved in a physical scuffle tonight in Macao.
Details are a little iffy right now, but Abac Cordero of the Philippine Star had a bunch of updates on Twitter. Here are a few of them:
bob arum says alex ariza "punched freddie" during the argument. @PhilippineStar
— @abaccordero (@abaccordero) November 20, 2013
then rios, we heard, shouts, "kill him!" (they're on each other's necks now here in macau) The Clash at Cotai #PacRios @PhilippineStar
— @abaccordero (@abaccordero) November 20, 2013
So Alex Ariza kicked Freddie Roach in the stomach, a witness says. @PacRios @PhilippineStar
— @abaccordero (@abaccordero) November 20, 2013
It started when Freddie told Garcia like their time was up at the gym. rios trains at 9 a.m. Pacquiao at 11 a.m. @PhilippineStar r
— @abaccordero (@abaccordero) November 20, 2013
We are told that Ariza shouts at Freddie Roach "This isn't Wild Card anymore!" @PhilippineStar #badblood
— @abaccordero (@abaccordero) November 20, 2013
Ariza: He (roach) was coming at Rob. Then he raised his fist on me so he got it. @PhilstarNews
— @abaccordero (@abaccordero) November 20, 2013
Police are coming: Ariza unfazed. "When someone raises a fist on you the only one who can protect you is yourself. @PhilippineStar
— @abaccordero (@abaccordero) November 20, 2013
Roach reportedly tells Garcia, "get the f--k out of here. Ariza says, "that's a sign of aggression." @PhilippineStar
— @abaccordero (@abaccordero) November 20, 2013
So, in short, Team Rios was reportedly still using the gym that both fighters are working out in, they were a few minutes over (Lee Samuels of Top Rank says six or seven minutes), and Roach was demanding they get out. Rios was reportedly on the treadmill at the time, while Pacquiao had not yet arrived. The Rios team stood their ground, then things got physical, with Ariza reportedly kicking Roach (according to Ariza himself).
Fun!