ROACH RETURNS AND PACQUIAO LOOKS FANTASTIC
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 20 Jun 2008
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach returned to the Wild Card gym after a brief bout with a heavy cold and watched his prized possession, Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, put on what a Roach assistant Rob Peters said was a ?fantastic performance in sweltering heat.?
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Peters said Roach was ?really happy the way the camp has been going and with folks from the Philippines starting to show up Manny is happy and his mindset is really, really good.?
Pacquiao went eight rounds with regular sparring partners Julio Gamboa, Carlos Tangaro and Steve Quinonez and Peters said Pacquiao looked great and he was ?real happy and comfortable?. Peters said Diaz is a good fighter and we are "going to have a better fight than people expect, while it lasts.".
He added that with the NBA championship victory of the Boston Celtics which was Pacquiao?s favored team, ?we are doing pretty good about that.?
Meantime, respected boxing writer Kieran Mulvaney of Reuters and ESPN.com said that WBC lightweight champion David Diaz ?is perhaps the most difficult opponent Manny could pick for a lightweight debut, not because Diaz is very skilled but because he is big and strong and he fights hard for twelve rounds.?
Mulvaney believes that the key is going to be Pacquiao?s speed. Pacquiao himself mentioned in his media conference call that he is carrying his strength with him even as he moves up to 135 pounds but Mulvaney said ?keeping the speed is more difficult even though he should be much faster than Diaz.?
The noted journalist who often appears on HBO Countdown shows prior to a big fight said he doesn?t think Pacquiao can stop Diaz ?with one punch. But he may be able to overwhelm him with punches.. He is going to have to work very, very hard for this win.?
Mulvaney thinks that Pacquiao is a much better fighter but Diaz is ?a strong, tough opponent with great stamina.? He said he expects Pacquiao to win ?by decision, possibly a wide decision or a late stoppage but Diaz will make him work every minute of every round.?
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