By Chris Williams: Despite trainer Freddie Roach saying that Alex Ariza won’t be part of his four-man corner team this Saturday night when WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao faces off with unbeaten challenger Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Ariza will indeed be working the corner, according to RingTV.

It’s unclear how Roach feels about this, as he’s been unhappy with Ariza lately for this or that, and he didn’t want him to work Pacquiao’s corner for some reason. I thought it was a stupid thing to do barring Ariza from the corner for the fight. If you look at Pacquiao’s recent fights, Ariza has been the motivator in between rounds. Roach has been the guy giving the instructions but Ariza has had a strong roles in getting Pacquiao psyched to do battle. Not having Ariza there for Pacquiao could be a be real negative for him, because he seems to do well with Ariza shouting stuff motivational advice.

Roach told RingTV “The corner will be me, Miguel Diaz, and Alex Ariza. We talked to Manny last night, and we’re going to all sit down and go over everyone’s job an what they’re intended to do.”

I wonder if Roach is going to try and get Ariza silenced on fight night? What good will Ariza be if he just sits there not saying a world like a bump on a log. Ariza has got to talk if he’s to be effective. Ariza needs to talk to Pacquiao about this if Ariza tries to shut him up on Saturday because he can’t be silenced if he’s to be doing his job. He is the strength guy, and he’s got to be able to talk to Pacquiao.

It’s good that Roach changed his mind about having Ariza work the corner. I just wonder if this was Roach’s decision or if Pacquiao laid down the law by saying he wanted Ariza there.