ROACH WANTS A KNOCKOUT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Oct 2014
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach wants ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao to deliver a knockout when he faces WBO light welterweight champion Chris Algieri in a 144 pound catch-weight bout for Pacquiao?s WBO welterweight title when they face off at the plush Cotai Arena of the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino on February 22.
In an international conference call on Thursday, Roach said ?I would love to see a knockout? which was the same sentiment expressed by Pacquiao?s longtime adviser Michael Koncz in an earlier conversation with the Manila Standard/Viva Sports while recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot in his right leg last week.
The last time Pacquiao won by a stoppage was when he scored a 12th round TKO over Miguel Cotto in November 2009.
Both men?s desire for Pacquiao to score a knockout was boosted by Pacquiao?s reported aggression which Roach said was on full display in sparring with Mike Jones and undefeated Ukraine toughie and world No. 1 ranked Viktor Postol.
Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) has stepped up training following the arrival of Postol with Roach claiming that Postol, Jones and lightweight Stan ?The Man? Martyinouk ?has featured the best sparring partners of Pacquiao?s career? after earlier stating that the sparring partners were better than Algieri who has an unbeaten record of 20-0 with 8 knockouts.
However, Roach paid tribute to Algieri who he said ?comes to fight and that?s what we are getting ready for.?
The Hall of Fame trainer conceded that the lanky Algieri who is several inches taller than Pacquiao and has a longer reach and is known for an effective jab. But Pacquiao isn?t worried about the jab, confident that his speed will overcome whatever advantage Algieri has.
Pacquiao said he ?knows what I?m gonna do in the fight. We practiced hard in the gym working on different techniques? with Roach indicating ?we really have to take that jab away from him (Algieri) pointing out that they have a ?great game plan to do that.?
Despite a few who believe Algieri won?t be able to handle Pacquiao?s power, speed and experience, Pacquiao himself admits that after his courageous performance against Manny?s former sparring partner, the Russian beast Ruslan Provodnikov whom he defeated despite being dropped twice in the opening round and fighting with his right eye almost close from the eighth round onwards, he deserves to fight him, adding ?we are not taking him lightly at all. He definitely deserves to be there.?
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum expressed concern over Pacquiao?s playing in the PBA pointing out that ?professional basketball, no matter where the country is that you play, is a rugged sport and a player can turn an ankle very, very easily. These NBA players are fantastic physical specimens and yet they get injured all the time, so an injury would have really wreaked havoc with the fight, so I was not very pleased. But Manny has assured Freddie, Freddie has assured me that that?s it.?
Then, in a lighter vein Arum said ?after he does the fight on November 22, if he wants to try out for the New York Knicks, it?s OK with me.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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