Roach says Manny will fight smart
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 Jul 2019
Freddie Roach isn?t worried about Manny Pacquiao losing focus because of Keith Thurman?s trash talking, assuring that the Filipino fighting Senator will fight smart and stick with the game plan to win their WBA welterweight unification title duel at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time).
?Manny?s not happy about it,? said Roach, referring to Thurman?s boast of crucifying Pacquiao and sending him into retirement. ?But Manny?s not like one of those guys who carry their anger over to a fight. He?ll fight a smart fight and stick with the game plan we set out to win this fight.?
Roach said Thurman is a dangerous opponent but Pacquiao has the speed and style to take care of business. ?Thurman has power in his left hand and overhand right,? he said. ?I just don?t think he is as much as he was at one time.? The undefeated American boasts a record of 29-0, with 22 KOs, but five of his last six outings went the distance. Thurman, 30, was pushed to the limit in his last three fights since 2016, beating Shawn Porter by a unanimous decision, Danny Garcia by a split decision and Josesito Lopez by a majority decision in that order.
Roach, 59, said his life turned around when Pacquiao walked into the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles looking for a trainer in 2001. That began a long relationship leading to Pacquiao winning eight world titles in eight different weight divisions, seven with Roach in his corner.
?Manny made me a bit famous,? smiled Roach. ?I can?t go to the Philippines without a lot of people coming around me. It?s very nice, the people are very nice. I enjoy it. I like people and being where I?m at. I?m very happy. People say I?m the best trainer in the world. I hope that when I die, it?ll still hold on because I like that. I like being a good trainer, I like being good in what I do. I work my ass off every day. I get to the gym at 7 in the morning and I go home 8 at night.?
Roach has battled Parkinson?s disease for nearly 30 years but doesn?t let it get the better of him. ?I was diagnosed as having Parkinson?s somewhere down the line,? he said. ?Some symptoms have gone away a little bit. I asked my doctor if I?m cured and he laughed, not yet, he told me. I?m in good shape. I work every day. Without having this gym, I don?t know what I?d do. Maybe, stay home and watch TV. I love this work, I like helping fighters, I like helping people. I hope I die doing this.?
Roach revealed that civil rights activist and minister Rev. Jesse Jackson is also afflicted with Parkinson?s and recently reached out. ?Rev. Jackson called me about a month ago, maybe two,? he said. ?He asked if I could help him. What?s wrong? He told me he has Parkinson?s. I think I can help him. He asked if he could come out and see me. Of course, he can. So he came out and on the first day, walking up the steps was difficult for him.?
Jackson, 77, made public his affliction in 2017 and said he had symptoms three years before. Roach said he has survived Parkinson?s with constant hand-eye coordination drills. Doing the mitts with fighters like Pacquiao is his therapy. ?Boxing probably saved my life,? said Roach. His message to Jackson was ?You just can?t give up, can?t let it take over.?
Photo: Manny Pacquiao works the pads with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles (photo by Jhay Otamias).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 17 Jul 2025More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
By Leo Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
Thu, 17 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS CONGRATULATES SUBRIEL MATIAS ON BECOMING THE WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Thu, 17 Jul 2025Gaisano Grand Cup Season 20 opens August 3
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Shane Mosley Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 17 Jul 2025HALL OF FAMER MANNY PACQUIAO SET TO CHASE HISTORY YET AGAIN THIS SATURDAY NIGHT IN WORLD TITLE FIGHT AGAINST MARIO BARRIOS
Wed, 16 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: New York, a Special Place for Boxing
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua talking for a possible fight?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Philippines Rolls Past Pacific Oceania in Davis Cup Group IV Opener as Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors Set the Pace
Wed, 16 Jul 2025QUOTES FROM TONY HARRISON’S OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT TODAY IN DETROIT
Wed, 16 Jul 20253-Time World Champion Miyo Yoshida is tired of playing Boxing’s dreaded waiting game
Wed, 16 Jul 2025RP Blu Girls Dominate India to Strengthen Asia Cup Campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 16 Jul 2025