Roach says Manny working hard
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 23 Jun 2019
Freddie Roach welcomed Manny Pacquiao back to the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles last Tuesday and said nothing has changed with his work ethic. Pacquiao is working as hard as ever in preparation for his WBA welterweight unification title duel with unbeaten Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on July 20.
?Manny works harder than any fighter I?ve ever worked with,? said Roach. ?His work ethic is unbelievable. It?s great to have him back in the gym. I?m excited and it?s fun. We gave it as much time as we could in training so he can be focused for this fight. It?s good for Manny and it?s good for all of us actually.?
Roach said age, jet lag and fighting his third world title fight in 12 months are not factors working against Pacquiao. ?Even though he was a little tight on his first day of sparring because of jet lag, he still pushed through with it,? he continued. ?We were supposed to go six rounds of sparring and he went eight. We were supposed to do four rounds with the mitts and he went six. He just wants to push, push, push and go, go, go. So he?ll be in shape in a couple of days. He?ll get rid of the jet lag pretty soon. It won?t go away immediately. It?ll take a couple of days to get adjusted and he?ll be fine.?
As soon as Pacquiao started working out, Roach knew he?ll be ready for Thurman. ?I?ve been watching a lot of Thurman?s fights on tape, his last eight fights,? he said. ?I think the footwork is really a big key, in and out. Manny can?t stay in the pocket too long because the guy does throw back. So the thing is he?ll be in and out really quick, score and get out and he did that with the first sparring partner (Abie Lopez). Manny did that very well. To me, Abie?s almost identical to Thurman. He?s the best sparring partner for Manny because he has that style. He?s one of my fighters. He?s a pretty good fighter and he?ll just get better and better. The confidence alone, just being in the ring with Manny, will get a huge boost. He?s so excited. He?s been waiting for two days. He came early. He?s a good prospect and I expect him to jump up even higher after working with Manny.?
Manny Pacquiao, accompanied by his team and supporters, runs at the picturesque and hilly Griffith Park in Los Angeles Friday despite the rain ahead of his world title bout against Keith Thurman of the United States on July 20 in Las Vegas. Photo by Wendell Alinea.
Lopez and Arnold Gonzalez were the first sparmates brought in for Pacquiao. Marvin Somodio, who used to be Roach?s chief assistant and now works on his own in Los Angeles, said Pacquiao?s performance on his first day of sparring was above par. ?Si Abie, may speed at magalaw ang paa,? said Somodio whom Pacquiao invited to join his training team. ?Si Gonzalez, may power at magaling na counter-puncher.?
It was a reunion of Team Pacquiao as head trainer Buboy Fernandez got together with Roach, Somodio and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune. The atmosphere was almost nostalgic. But when it came to getting down to putting in the work, Pacquiao was all business.
Thurman, 30, is a formidable opponent and although he has fought only thrice in the last three years, remains a threat. Pacquiao, 40, isn?t looking beyond Thurman. He knows what he?s up against. Thurman is known as a thinking fighter, a technician who lays traps for his opponents and baits them into dangerous situations. Pacquiao can?t afford to get careless. To win, he has to dictate the terms of engagement and fight his fight, not Thurman?s. Battling an unbeaten opponent is nothing new for Pacquiao whose list of victims includes previously undefeated fighters like Chris Algieri, Tim Bradley, Jorge Solis, Emmanuel Lucero, Nedal Hussein and Seung Kon Chae. His goal is to add Thurman to that list.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
Sun, 24 Nov 2024World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024KAMBOSOS JR SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Sat, 23 Nov 2024INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th
Sat, 23 Nov 2024Ring Master promotes in Calinan on Dec. 21
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024NP Bansalan boxing team in Matalam
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024New York, Minnesota Biggest Trade Gainers; Los Angeles Has the Rookie Draft Steal
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 22 Nov 2024