ROACH SATISFIED WITH PACQUIAO'S PERFORMANCE
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Apr 2014
LOS ANGELES - Newly-crowned World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao's chief trainer Freddie Roach expressed satisfaction over the way his pupil of 13 years disposed off erstwhile unbeaten Timothy Bradley in their grudge rematch last Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arnea in Las Vegas.
"Manny fought very, very well according to fight plans,"Roach told this writer Monday at his Wild Card Boxing Gym in the entertainment capital of Hollywood, Caifornia. "There was no knockout as everybody wanted, but just the same, it was a well-fought match and the best man who should be wearing that crown won."
The 30-year-old Palm Springs former titleholder, according to Roach, had improved a lot since his ward was dethroned via a questionable split decision almost two years ago, reason why Pacquiao, the only man to crown himself world champion in eight different divisions found it hard to pin him.
"Bradley has not been knocked out in his life. He came from strong victories against Ruslan (Provodnikov) and (Juan Manuel) Marquez, so he really was expected to make a brave stand against Manny," Roach reasoned out.
"Manny, as everyone saw, dominated from the fifth round on. He fought as we wanted him to, which to me was enough to prove to the whole world that he's the real champion who should have been defending the title that night," the Hall of Fame boxing guru assessed.
"I'm happy because Manny showed he's far from over as, few believe he is and that he will continue pursuing to win back the respect, admiration of the entire boxing community and the reputation taken away from him with that stupid split decision loss two years ago," he remarked.
"As we planned, he came out smokin' from the opening bell on, punching in all the 12 rounds," the five-time trainer of the year recalled. "He had Bradley in trouble a couple of times. He tried to finish him but, remember, Bradley weighed 160 pounds at fight night as compared to Manny's 149 or a difference of 11 pounds."
"Manny hurt him several times, starting in the fifth round, but as I said, fighters are creatures of habit. When they get hurt, they revert to who they are. It's Bradley's habit that when in trouble, run, and that's exactly what he did. But Manny was prepared for that as he continued pursuing him, cutting the ring and cornering Bradley in the rope where he punished him with, at several occasions, as many as a dozen unanswered shots that all found their marks," Roach analyzed.
The only lack in Pacquiao's arsenal that night, Roach noted was his body punches, which was part of the game plan,but which Pacman didn't use often.
"Well, he was leading, so no need really," he explained. "I always give him that leeway. "he's the one up there in the ring and knows better what's good and what's bad for him."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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