Roach Wants Pacquiao Training for Barrera Rematch a Top Secret
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 18 Aug 2007
Celebrated American trainer Freddie Roach assured that he won't let any distraction get in Manny Pacquiao's way as his prized ward girds up for his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera. He immediately started it Thursday by implementing a "closed-door"
policy for Pacman fans at the Rex "Wakee" Salud Gym until such time they leave for the United States in the second week of September.
"The gym will be closed to the public starting (Friday). We gonna work hard and I'm not gonna let any distraction get in our way," said Roach, who was visibly surprised after seeing a deluge of diehard Pacman followers flooding the RWS Gym just to have a glimpse of their idol.
"I made a deal with Wakee that the gym will be off limits to the fans. The press gonna have to make an appointment. We need to stay focus on this fight because this is really a hard fight coming up. And if we take this guy lightly, that's the only we lose," added Roach.
Roach said they will be training in Cebu for over a month. They will leave for the US 14 days before the bout and then spend one week in Los Angeles before winding up their training in Las Vegas.
"Most of the things will be done here. I don't want to go back in LA and start all over again. We need a place to start and we respect Cebu," said Roach.
Roach said Pacquiao will start his no-holds-barred sparring next week as the three Mexican sparring mates he hired for Pacman will be coming in this Sunday yet.
Roach said he doesn't expect a repeat performance by Pacquiao in his first encounter with Barrera believing that the Mexican legend, a great ring warrior as he is, will surely fight back better and stronger this time.
"We need a better peformance because Barrera will come better, believe me. I expect a better Barrera. He's a good fighter and we have to respect him. We need to fight a better fight than we do the first time for sure," said Barrera.
Pacquiao came as a heavy underdog but went on to record one the most stunning upsets in the annals of boxing when he scored a brutal 11th round destruction of Barrera on November 16, 2003 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Barrera seeks to avenge the painful defeat that until now haunts him as he takes on Pacquiao anew on October 6 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Although he is adored by millions of fight fans across the globe because of his great punching power and fearless fighting stance, Roach said Pacquiao needs to be smarter for him to be a complete fighter.
"I think he's coming a long way since the first Barrera fight. He's now a better fighter. But he needs to think a little bit more and use his head. He should learn to set things up and fight a little smarter," said Roach.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel B. Villaruel.
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