ROACH: WEIGHT IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR MANNY PACQUIAO
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 20 Jun 2008
LOS ANGELES, California ? Unlike in his previous world championship fights, weight problem is not an issue or something to worry about with barely a week to go for Manny Pacquiao who will gun for immortality by challenging dangerous World Boxing council (WBC) lightweight titlist David Diaz (34-1, 17 KO) in a ?Lethal combination? at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 28.
?No, weight is not a problem here. Manny?s weight is okay and he is comfortable in the weight (where he will fight Diaz),? Roach told mannypacquiao.ph in an exclusive interview a day after he failed to report in the Wild Card gym after being zapped by a flu.
Roach, 48, said his foster son Pacquiao (46-3, 35 KO) has already concluded his last 12 round sparring session and is already winding up his training that seriously romped off immediately after the national sports icon arrived here first week of May.
?So far, so good,? volunteered Roach who was expected to be back Thursday (LA time) for the finishing touches of Pacquiao?s training regimen that was nearly disrupted had he not decided to forgo an invitation to visit the Olympic facilities in Beijing, China end of the week of April.
After a nearly three-hour duke out at the Wild Card gym, Pacquiao, who will turn 30 on December 12, grabbed his guitar and proceeded to his favorite Thai restaurant downstairs to take his meal.
There was no sign of fatigue and worry for Pacquiao who feasted on rice and soup with fried fish and juice drink together with prized nutritionist Alex Ariza and some friends while watching the power point presentation in the wall inside the restaurant of his March 15 shootout with Juan Manuel Marquez.
He looked fresh and unshaven after the workout and was in good mood apparently feeling comfortable that he does not anymore limit his meal. Pacquiao?s media liaison Winchell Campos and former world rated bantamweight trailhorse Vernie Torres joined him in his workout. There was no more sparring session.
?It?s different now because he is scaling the lightweight division, unlike in his previous fights were he had to starve himself to death in order to get his weight in the superfeatherweight,? said San Francisco-based boxing writer and former boxing manager Hermie Rivera.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Nesthy faces Indon legend
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division
Sat, 13 Dec 2025SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025