Analyst hails Coach Buboy, says Pacquiao 'leaving' Freddie Roach was 'best decision'

A boxing analyst on Monday commended Buboy Fernandez, coach of Senator and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, for the way he handled and trained the latter for his fight against Argentinian boxer Lucas Matthysse.

In an interview on News To Go, JM Siasat admitted that he had doubted the capability of Coach Buboy to train Pacquiao and come up with the good strategy to win the bout.

"Ako I have to give a lot of credit kay Buboy Fernandez kasi without Freddie Roach nagsususpetsa ako na... I was doubting the team if they will be able to come up with the right game plan and preparation para sa laban na ito," Siasat said.

He said it was a good strategy for Team Pacquiao to "tone down" the intensity of the boxing legend's training.

Boxing icon and Senator Manny Pacquiao (left) spars with his childhood friend and long-time assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez during a training session at a gym in Manila on Thursday, May 17, 2018, ahead of his world welterweight boxing championship bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse in July. AFP/Ted Aljibe

"This time around, 'yung kanilang training medyo tinone down nila a bit. 'Yun naman talaga, that's really the right way to go. Na you cannot expect him to train as hard as before and have the same effect," Siasat said.

"Nakuha ni Buboy na ganito na dapat ang training natin ngayon. You cannot be training as hard as when you're in your 20s," Siasat added.

For Siasat, he believed that Pacquiao splitting with his longtime trainer Freddie Coach may have been the "best decision" for his career inside the boxing ring.

"I never thought I would say this ha... Manny Pacquiao leaving Freddie Roach could have been the best decision he has made [at this point of] his career," Siasat said.

WATCH: Emotional Buboy after Pacquiao-Matthysse fight

In an post-fight press conference, Pacquiao praised Coach Buboy but did not outright say that he will not get Roach for his next fight.

"I'm not saying Freddie Roach is not a good trainer, he's a legend," Pacquiao said, revealing he might get Roach for his next fight.

When asked about this, Siasat said it would still be Pacquiao's decision, noting that he has never really "fired" Roach.

"Hindi naman kasi talaga sinabing he's cutting ties with Freddie Roach, na he has fired Freddie Roach. So hindi natin alam, hindi naman niya finire. What Manny said was he would try Buboy Fernandez for this fight," Siasat said.

Pacquiao dominated Matthysse during the seventh round of the fight via technical knockout on Sunday. He won the World Boxing Association welterweight title in his first fight since his loss to Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia in 2017. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News

IN PHOTOS: Pacquiao vs. Matthysse