ROCA: PACQUIAO HAS MORE THAN EVEN CHANCE OF BEATING DE LA HOYA
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 25 Jul 2008
Hector Roca.
CEBU CITY -- Iconic New York boxing man Hector Roca, chief trainer of the world famous Gleason's Gym in New York and whose fighter Arturo Gatti fought Oscar de la Hoya in 2001, said that Pacquiao has a 60% chance of beating the Golden Boy.
"Oscar is not the same Oscar who fought my fighter Arturo Gatti years ago. He is on the decline and has slowed down considerably while Pacquiao is at his peak right now," Roca told PhilBoxing in an interview during last night's exclusive dinner party at the posh residence of pre-iminent boxing impresario Antonio L. Aldeguer.
"But more than that, it is the styles that matter," Roca would say. "De La Hoya has a hard time fighting with a moving target and Pacquiao has a perfect style to frustrate De La Hoya because he can be everywhere in the ring -- sometimes he's in front of you, sometimes he's on your side and sometimes on your back," Roca said as he moves his right hand in quick succession into diffent directions emphasizing Pacquiao's speed.
"Additionally, Pacquiao is a southpaw and De La Hoya had always problems fighting with a southpaw," Roca added.
Asked whether Pacquiao's punches can hurt De La Hoya, Roca said "definitely because Pacquiao was able to hurt David Diaz who had been fighting as a lightweight and as a junior welterweight."
Recalling the De La Hoya-Gatti fight in 2001 where he threw a towel to the ring to stop the contest in the 5th round, Roca said that De La Hoya was pounding Gatti with hard hooks on the body "that I had to stop it to avoid permanent damage to my fighter. Gatti is willing to die in the ring because he is a true warrior but boxing is just a sport. After that fight Gatti earned eight million dollars more in his next fights so it was not a bad stoppage."
Roca, who is originally from Panama, is here to be in the corner of Panamian Rafael Concepcion for tomorrow's fight against local ring sensation AJ 'Bazooka' Banal when the two collide for the interim WBA superfly title.
Roca, whose father and brother were both boxers, was a former Olympic cyclist in Panama before moving to New York in the seventies and later became a permanent fixture at the Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn as a trainer. He learned his training skills under the great Angelo Dundee, Muhammad Ali's long time trainer and has admired the late trainer Eddie Futch as an all-time great.
Hector Roca during the Banal-Concepcion weighin this afternoon at the SM City-Cebu.
Roca has trained world champions Buddy McGirt, Arturo Gatti, Regilio Tuur and Iran Barkley. He has also coached numerous actors and actresses including Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Rodriguez, John Leguizanio and also actress Hilary Swank for her role in the award winning film "Million Dollar Baby," directed by Clint Eastwood.
Roca, recently named the number one Spanish-speaking trainer in the world by International Boxing Digest, co-authored a book with Gleason's Gym owner Bruce Silverglade titled 'The Gleason's Gym Total Body Boxing Workout For Women: A 4-Week Head-To-Toe Makeover'.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026“Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj
Thu, 05 Feb 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026