By John F. McKenna (McJack): There have been numerous articles written regarding strength and conditioning guru Alex Ariza’s sudden departure from the training camp of Filipino icon World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s).

Ariza went AWOL from camp Pacquiao a little over a week ago, allegedly so that he could focus on preparing WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (45-0-1, 31 KO’s) for his upcoming match with Andy Lee (28-1, 20 KO’s) on June 16.

Ariza stated when he broke camp and headed for Los Angeles prior to meeting up with Chavez that he had received the blessing of none other than “Pacman”.

It does seem a little strange however that neither longtime Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach or Top Rank CEO Bob Arum were aware that the famed conditioning coach was leaving camp. The story first put out there for the media to digest was that Ariza would again meet up with the members of Team Pacquiao when Manny came to Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood for the balance of Pacquiao’s training.

To say that Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum were upset when they found out that Ariza had returned to the United States would be an understatement. Both dubbed Ariza’s leaving camp to be with Chavez as unprofessional.

Roach, who closely monitors the goings on at Pacquiao training camps, found out the hard way that Ariza was headed back to the United States. The driver who normally picks Roach up for his trip from his hotel to the gym in Baguio City instead was driving Ariza to the airport for his flight to Los Angeles. Roach was unaware of what had transpired until he was later able to contact his driver who told him Ariza was headed back to the United States.

Although the focus has been mainly on how Manny’s training would be impacted by Ariza’s leaving, Roach was quick to point out that former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KO’s) has also been shortchanged. Roach states that Khan traveled all the way to the Philippines for the purpose of working with Ariza.

Roach also notes that Alex has only worked with Pacquiao for his last five fights and that “Pacman” was a great fighter long before he arrived on the scene. Roach and company are quickly regrouping to minimize the absence of Ariza. Roach points out that he has worked with Pacquiao for eleven years and that Manny being the professional he is, will work past this distraction as he has other distractions in the past. The conditioning phase of training will be picked up by other members of Team Pacquiaol, Roach insists.

At this point very little has been heard from Alex Ariza and why he chose to break camp.

Many boxing observers are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Boxing fans want to know the real reason that Ariza left Manny Pacquiao’s training camp.