ROACH: PACQUIAO A LOT BETTER THIS TIME
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 06 Dec 2012
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach sees Manny Pacquiao as a better fighter during the fourth encounter with Juan Manuel Marquez on December 1, 2012. "Marquez is a very good fighter, but Manny is a lot better for this fight than he was for the third fight,? Dick Reeno of Boxing Scene quoted Roach as saying. ?I don't think he really saw the best Manny yet. In the third fight I thought he would be the Manny who is using both hands.?
Roach explained that Pacquiao ?had a few distractions before the fight and his mind wasn't there.? This time he believes that his prized boxer will be a different fighter than what we saw in the previous fights. ?I think he's going to see the best Manny and the best Manny will be way too much for him,? referring to Marquez who is going to face a much improved Pacquiao.
Roach confirmed that they have four knockdowns during the training camp and he said that the last knockdown they had in sparring was during the Miguel Cotto fight. He is positive Marquez would still use counter-punching as his main weapon. But the four-time Trainer of the Year awardee cautioned his favorite boxer that the Mexican will go all out to stop him also.
Aside from the vaunted counterpunch, another Marquez fatal weapon would be his footwork which he mastered enough to work against the southpaw opponent. Positioning of the feet influences the range of the boxers especially if an orthodox boxer fights a southpaw.
Roach anticipates that Marquez will still run when he feels the power of the Pacman?s punches. He expects ?Dinamita? to fight toe-to-toe but will revert to his old fighting form when he endures the pain of the opposite blows. He thinks that a bigger fighter would also mean a slower fighter.
?Our previous fights against each other brought out the best in us,? Pacquiao told to Top Rank. ?Of all the opponents I have fought, Juan Manuel Marquez is the only one who was able to anticipate many of my moves and effectively counter a lot of them. I underestimated him in our last fight but I will not make that mistake this time.?
"I am very excited to be fighting Manny again,? answered Marquez. ?I beat him the first three fights but did not get the decision; this time I will beat him again and I also will get the victory officially. It?s an election year and I am going to win by a landslide."
Pacquiao acknowledged that Marquez is the best fighter produced by Mexico next to Julio Cesar Chavez. This fourth fight means so much to the fighting congressman of Sarangani. A clear victory would mean concluding a wonderful chapter of this storied rivalry and writing another chapter in his beautiful ring history.
Marquez will fight Pacquiao at a full 147-pound weight limit for the first time. Last year, they met at a catchweight of 144 lbs. Oddsmakers choose Pacquiao as 4-1 favorite to win over Marquez. Pacquiao has a record of 54-4-2 with 38 KOs while Marquez has a slate of 54-6-1 with 39 KOs.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
Sun, 24 Nov 2024World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024KAMBOSOS JR SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Sat, 23 Nov 2024INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th
Sat, 23 Nov 2024Ring Master promotes in Calinan on Dec. 21
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024NP Bansalan boxing team in Matalam
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024New York, Minnesota Biggest Trade Gainers; Los Angeles Has the Rookie Draft Steal
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 22 Nov 2024