Trainer not happy with Manny Pacquiao’s work

The theory that Manny Pacquiao is so good he can afford to back off in training camp is about to be tested.

“Worst camp ever,” Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said Wednesday, 18 days before the first-term Philippine congressman seeks a record eighth weight-class world title in a junior-middleweight bout against Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas.

Pacquiao’s conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, complained his fighter routinely found excuses in the Philippines to avoid the strength training to pack on extra pounds of muscle against Margarito, who could weigh close to 160 pounds on fight night Nov. 13.

“I don’t believe in waiting until the last two weeks and then trying to push it,” Ariza said. “The things I wanted to do to make him a finished product, we didn’t do. Chance favors the prepared, and we’re not prepared. That’s why we have a weight problem. [Pacquiao] is at 146 pounds right now, so we’ll just get him as strong as possible at 146.”

Pacquiao (51-3-2, 39 knockouts) is more than an 8-to-1 favorite to beat Margarito.

However, the Filipino star missed a training session to meet with the president of the Philippines, made exhausting five-hour car rides to Manila on nontraining Sundays, and has irked Roach by goofing off in the ring and saying he missed his job in congress.

“This training camp, there have been some problems,” Pacquiao said. “I’m pushing myself, focusing, studying [Margarito’s] style, running, sparring. Right now, I feel ready for the fight. It’s easy for me. I’ll do my best to make the people impressed.”

Pacquiao also knows that Roach has previously derided Margarito’s footwork as “horrible,” and the trainer thinks Margarito has no punching power without plaster inserts in his gloves.

On the 15-hour flight to Los Angeles this past weekend, Roach told Pacquiao, “We’re not where we’re supposed to be,” part of what the trainer described as a “stern conversation … I did all the talking, he did all the listening. His mind’s been off the fight.”

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

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