ROACH WORKS ON NEW TACTICS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 07 Sep 2007
Trainer extraordinaire Freddie Roach and his treasured prize fighter Manny Pacquiao Thursday took their preparation for the rematch with Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera to another important phase - developing tactics, strategy and an arsenal of offensive weapons aimed at destroying Barrera one more time.
If the intensity in Pacquiao’s workouts after a brief setback with a bout of flu is any indication then Barrera, who was demolished in eleven rounds in their first encounter in San Antonio, Texas in November 2003, is likely to take an even worse beating.
Mexican sparring partner Raymund Beltran told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that compared to his workouts in preparation for the fights with Erik “El Terrible” Morales, Pacquiao “is stronger and smarter and has some better moves.” Beyond that Beltran said Manny “is more confident now and his defense is much better.”
After watching Roach teach Pacquiao some new tactics, Beltran predicted Barrera will last “maybe six or eight rounds because Barrera will try to box and move around.” However, Beltran figured Pacquiao will catch up with him and rounds “nine, ten and eleven, if it goes that long, will be even more dangerous for Barrera because he gets tired after eight rounds while Manny is stronger” due to his great conditioning.
Asked whether Pacquiao’s vaunted punching power is accentuated by his quickness Beltran said “no man, he really hits hard. Sometimes people say if you have speed and they can get you they’ll knock you out. Some guys have speed but they have no power at all. Manny’s got speed and he’s got power. That’s why he’s been knocking people out – Barrera, Morales and had Juan Manuel Marquez down three times in the first round. A lot of good fighters. He really has power.”
In a tribute to his grueling training regimen, Beltran said “he works so hard. He works a lot, too much. But that’s how he gets his conditioning.” He noted that Oscar De La Hoya and other great fighters train hard but in the ninth, tenth rounds they slow down but Manny is like a child he never loses his energy.”
In a long distance telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Roach was extremely pleased over the devastating right hook Pacquiao is developing saying “its working better all the time.” But that’s clearly not the only thing they are working on. We’ve watched Pacquiao slipping punches like never before and getting under the jab while ripping hooks to the body and side of the head with near blinding speed.
Pacquiao;s chief-of-staff Jake Joson branded the lengthy training session ”intense” with Pacquiao going nine rounds on the punch-mitts without a break in-between. He said Roach was introducing “new techniques which Manny learned imnmediately.”
As part of his conditioning routine Pacquiao threw punches while doing sit-ups and with the last traces of a cold having disappeared the Filipino ring idol looked in great shape and mentally focused and at ease.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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