ROACH PREPARING PACQUIAO TO KNOCK BRADLEY OUT
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 Feb 2016
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- It looks like Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach won't, indeed, settle for just a victory for his prized ward, Filipino ring sensation, Manny Pacquiao.
"As I have been saying, I want my boy to knock the other guy out and we'll be preparing him for that purpose," the very vocal Roach, known for saying things he wants to say no matter what, told this writer Tuesday.
"I'm saying this because, deep in me, I know he can do it, if he wants to," Roach asserted. "Forget that he's now fighting in the 147-pound division. Forget that he used to stop opponents in the lower weight categories. What I know is he still has it. The power, strength, speed."
True to his words, Roach paved the road towards his student's recapturing the form he possessed during his glory days when Pacquiao stopped 38 of those who crossed his path atop the ring one after another, barely two days after opening the door of the training camp.
Pacquiao and Roach at the Wildcard Gym in General Santos City Tuesday. Photos by Wendell Rupert Alinea.
The soon-to-be 56-year-old Roach, lured the 37 year-old fighting congressman of the province of Sarangani to work the mitts in a grueling 10-round session in what served as a sign of what to come in the two-stop camp including a three-week leg in Los Angeles.
Tuesday's 10-rounder was four rounds more than the six-round grind the eight-division champ did Monday, a day following Roach's arrival in this oven-hot, but otherwise booming city. It was also the first time that the frequency in his regimen was increased that early in his buildup chore.
Two rounds each with the heavy bags, double end ball and speed ball rounded out the tedious day at the Gensan's version of Wild Card Gym that had Pacquiao gasping for breath at day's end. He did away though with the floor exercise that normally ends his day at the gym.
Roach instead made him skip the rope, a ritual the American guru also passed up Monday. After that, he asked for a hot drink to ease what he said was a slight stomach pain.
A 10-lap roadwork at the Acharon Sports Complex oval earlier started his day of rigor. Setting aside fatigue, the Pacman even played basketball later that day leading his Team Emmanuel to its second victory in three games in the on-going MP National Basketball League he himself organized.
A tough and exhausting day considering that it was only Day 2 of the camp but Roach, nonetheless, expressed confidence that the strong-willed former 10-time titlist will be able to pass the test with flying colors.
"I know Manny, not only his capability to do things, but do them successfully. We've been working together for the past 15 years and I know what he can do and what he can't," Roach narrated.
"I said he'll knockout Bradley precisely because I know he can do it. The grueling training schedule? That's nothing What I'm asking him is to stay focused in training, momentarily set aside distractions that can ruin our efforts in preparations," he stressed smiling.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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