Freddie Roach quits as Pacquiao's trainer.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Salven L. Lagumbay

THE MAN widely credited for Manny Pacquiao's newfound success and who lobbied so hard so the Filipino fighter won't be deceived financially will no longer be in his corner.

Top Trainer of the Year candidate Freddie Roach announced in an interview yesterday with boxing website Boxingtalk that he is quitting as Manny Pacquiao's trainer following the Filipino camp's decision to stick it out with US agent Murad Muhammad for one more year.

"Yes. And there's no doubt about it, that's what's going to keep on happening until he (Pacquiao) decides to do something about it. If we could get an accountant involved to look at all of Manny's fights under Murad Muhammad, you'll find a lot of money missing," Roach told Boxingtalk's Greg Leon in an interview when asked if he would no longer be training Pacquiao if the latter continued to allow himself to be robbed blind.

Roach revealed that Pacquiao had already approached him for help after the Filipino saw that his purse was $700,000 and not $350,000 when he signed the contract after the weigh-in right before the fight with Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera last November.

"He asked me if I would be his manager and take care of his business for him to make sure they don't steal his money from him. I did all of that, I wasn't getting paid to do it and I wasn't asking for anything," Roach said.