Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Lucas Matthysse for the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title is not just his personal battle for survival in the sport that made him rich and famous.

It will also open a golden opportunity for his best friend Buboy Fernandez.

For the first time in 17 years, Fernandez will hog the limelight when he comes out as chief trainer in what will be a make-or-break fight for Pacquiao Sunday at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

His rise as Pacquiao’s top cornerman did not come as a stroke of luck.

After losing to Australian brawler Jeff Horn last year, Pacquiao’s relationship with his long-time trainer Freddie Roach turned sour.

Those in the know stressed that it was Roach’s failure to make necessary adjustments during the fight that paved the way for Horn to batter Pacquiao with rough plays and dirty tactics.

Some insiders revealed Roach’s post-fight discussion with Pacquiao turned out to be a dare for the boxer to choose between a career as a politician and continue fighting.

Pacquiao claimed he didn’t let go of Roach, who transformed him from a skinny kid from Gen. Santos City into an eight-division champion and the greatest Asian professional boxer in history.

Along the way, they had the highest and lowest achievements from Pacquiao’s sensational stoppages of Lehlo Ledwaba, Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton to crushing setbacks to Juan Manuel Marquez and Horn.

“I’m not saying that I won’t come back to Freddie– just for this fight. We can work again in the future if he can still train,” he told noted boxing scribe Lance Pugmire of Los Angeles Times.

“I’m not mad. That’s why you haven’t heard me commenting about Freddie. I’ll try to visit him after the fight if I have a chance.”

With Roach no longer around, Fernandez was elevated from assistant trainer to a starring role, a promotion seen as an opportunity for him to lure more boxers and start a professional coaching career.

Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz didn’t hide the fact that the shift is Pacquiao’s way to expose Fernandez – his boyhood pal – to big-time coaching.

“I believe he (Pacquiao) will give Buboy the chance to prove himself after all these years,” said Koncz, adding that it was Fernandez – not Roach or anybody from his team — whom Pacquiao looked for when Marquez destroyed him in 2012.

At the mitts session at the Le Meridien Hotel Friday, Pacquiao miscalculated a right straight and hit Fernandez in the mouth, a punch so powerful that it left the trainer with one tooth missing.

Pacquiao said sorry. Fernandez said it was okay.

They may lose this fight and fade into retirement, but their friendship will never change.