ROACH PREDICTS KO WIN FOR PACQUIAO
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 15 Nov 2013
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? ?We?ll demolish him inside six rounds!?
This was what Hall of Famer Freddie Roach vowed will happen when his come backing Filipino ward Manny Pacquiao battles American Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Cotai Arena at the Venetian resort in Macau.
The 54-year-old four-time ?Trainer of the Year? honoree of the American Boxing Writers Association of America cited his prized student?s elongated 10-week preparations, Pacquiao?s longest camp since walking in at Roach?s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, on the way to collecting championships after championships ? 10 overall ? in eight weight divisions, including four lineal titles.
Roach said Pacquiao?s training staff that includes his assistants Buboy Fernandez, Marvin Somodio, Nonoy Neri, Roger Fernandez and conditioning coach Gavin MacMillan trained the eight-division champion to be ready to box ? box ? and box from the opening bell on until they see the Filipino ring hero remains standing anytime from round 1 to 6.
?I?ve never seen Manny trains this long and hard in our 12-year partnership,? Roach attested. ?Well, it?s because he had a long layoff since his last fight that requires an equally long camp.? ?When Manny steps into the ring, he?s well-prepared, razor-sharp as when he was still fighting for recognition, well motivated,? he assured. ?He?s very anxious to fight as early as when we ended our seventh week in the camp.?
?He told me then that he has already regained his sharpness, his strength, speed and agility reminiscent of his past fights against (Oscar DeLa Hoya) (Miguel) Cotto, (Antonio) Margarito and even Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera,? Roach said.
?Those, of course, are the things I like to hear and I am thankful it came directly from him,? Roach said smiling. ?At this point, I must say that Manny has recovered his confidence and do whatever he wants as in the old days. I see him knocking Rios out no later than six.?
?Rios is a tough guy, no doubt about it. But manny would be tougher, stronger and quicker. Watch him,? he said.
?Manny has definitely put the knockout (to arch nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez) behind him. Manny Pacquiao knows that the knockout is part of the sport. He realizes that if you aren?t able to handle the knockout you picked the wrong sport, he observe d. ?He is totally recovered and is brave as ever in the ring. Manny?s doing great.?
Thursday?s five-round sparring (two rounds against Filipino welterweight hopeful Dan Nazareno and two opposite Irish Liam Vaughan brought his total to 105 rounds. Another five rounds set today, Roach assessed would be enough to cap Pacquiao?s 10-week camp at the Pacman Wild Card Gym here on Monday.
?We don?t actually need to meet our target 150 rounds in this camp now,? Roach said. We?ll be concentrating on physical conditioning and stamina building regimen from here on till we set foot on Macau.?
?His timing is very good and I can?t ask for more. I think we?ve covered all angles as far as ring movements are concerned,? Roach intoned even as he heaped praises on his training group for a job well done.
Roach, too, had encouraging words on Macmillan, who he said has been providing what Pacquiao needs as far as recovering from a twin of horrendous defeats last year.
?Gavin has done his homework very well. Being a former athlete himself, he knows Manny?s problems and how to solve them,? he noted in reference to his former soccer player-turned conditioning expert. ?I think he helped a lot in allowing Manny forget what happened last year.?
?Gavin?s one of the best things that happened in the camp,? he said.
Monday?s regimen that will put the curtains down in the camp will just a light conditioning workout with MacMillan, punching the mitts and a visit to the heavy bag, double end and speed balls. Road activities had been reduced to the minimum since MacMillan?s arrival and was completely done away yesterday.
Team Pacquiao leaves General Santos afternoon of the same day direct to China?s and Asia?s premier gambling city.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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