?IT?S PACQUIAO BY POINTS? - Roach
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Dec 2009
Saying Floyd Mayweather is, in style, far from Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and even Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach expressed confidence that his ward will also dispose of the unbeaten American.
Roach, known to correctly predict the knockout outcomes of at least three previous Pacquiao fights, said though that it most-likely that the Filipino seven-division champion will prevail on points in the past and present best pound-for-pound fighters on March 13 at a place still subject to negotiations.
The reason, he said, is that the 40-0 win-loss record-holder is a tougher opponent than the last three and it won?t be a simple task of ``knocking him out.?
"I look at it as a very complicated fight. The truth is, it will be difficult and we have to work a lot with Manny on strategy, because Floyd is a great fighter, fast, very defensive and he is smart. But we still have two months to make it work for everything to happen [for us],?? Roach The Record as quoted by Boxing Scene.
Although the fight is closer than the earlier proposed month of May, the three-time ?Trainer of the Year? honoree said there is more than enough time to prepare for the super fight.
"We are going to spend one month in the Philippines and another in Los Angeles (to prepare) for the fight. I believe we have ideal time to properly prepare and get ready for Pacquiao to win a decision," Roach said.
Meanwhile, a source close to the negotiations, said the chances are the March encounter will be finalized, if not within the week, early next week.
No definite venue has been agreed upon although reports are that, among those bidding, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is the frontrunner. Texas' Dallas Cowboys has made a strong $25 million dollar bid to steal it away, but MGM is said to be putting together a deal that will reach over $30 million.
All bases looked to have been covered, including Olympic style drug testing of both fighters.
"The fight will definitely be finalized this week," the source said.
(Eddie Alinea's articles also appear in the Philippine Gazette)
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