STRENGTH and conditioning guru Alex Ariza, who steered eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao through his amazing run against top-class fighters, has lamented the fact that despite the tremendous talent in the country, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who made lots of money off the Filipino ring icon, hasn’t given anything back to Philippine boxing.
In a wide-ranging interview on Viva Sports weekly boxing show “The Main Event” on Pinoy Box Office over Sky Cable last weekend, Ariza said: “I’ve been to a lot of gyms here and I see such tremendous talent, it’s so sad that after all the money made off Pacquiao, they can’t give a little back .”
Ariza said he felt the need “for something structured, something organized and they (Filipino fighters) can make the transition and be seen over in the United States. There is a wealth of raw talent waiting for somebody to give direction.”
Ariza believes that Filipino fighters need to be given the exposure that Floyd Mayweather Jr. gives his fighters in the US.
The strength and conditioning coach said he doesn’t have the resources to pay for such a program, but committed “I will definitely give my time and whatever expertise and advice absolutely free.”