As BoxingScene.com reported earlier this week, eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) made an unexpected decision to part ways with his longtime trainer Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao has been trained by Roach since 2001 - and the two have worked side by side for 34 fights.

The Filipino superstar will challenge WBA "regular" welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) on July 14 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The bout will be Pacquiao's first since suffering a shocking twelve round decision loss at the hands of Jeff Horn, which took place last July before a crowd of 51,000 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

Pacquiao's manager, Michael Koncz, stated earlier this week that Roach would be replaced by the boxer's best friend and assistant trainer, Buboy Fernandez.

Koncz would not specify the exact reasons for the parting of ways, but says Pacquiao was not happy with aspects of Roach's work in the Horn fight and he wasn't happy with some of the statements Roach has made in the press.

"There was some concerns Manny had in the last fight and some statements Freddie made to the media that Manny wasn't very pleased about," Koncz said to ESPN.

There is speculation that Pacquiao may have been upset with Roach's statements in the aftermath of the Horn loss, where the veteran coach publicly complained in the media that his payment for working that contest was late.

Roach is not holding a grudge, but he is upset that Pacquiao never gave him any notice of the big change. Roach apparently found out about being replaced through the press.

"Manny and I had a great run for 15 years -- longer than most marriages and certainly a rarity for boxing.  I wouldn't trade any of it.  Inside the boxing ring and the political ring, I wish Manny nothing but the best," Roach said in a statement provided to BoxingScene.com.

"I would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't hurt that he didn't contact me personally about his decision, but the great times we enjoyed together far outweigh that."