ROACH DISAPPOINTED WITH PACQUIAO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 21 Mar 2007
Although celebrated two-time “Trainer of the Year” Freddie Roach was not at his Wild Card Gym to supervise the first day of training of Manny Pacquiao because he was in Puerto Rico training Oscar De La Hoya for his mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather, he was still very concerned about Pacquiao’s preparation for his fight against Jorge Solis in San Antonio, Texas on April 14.
ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo, in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today reported that Roach told her “I am so disappointed” because Pacquiao apparently showed up late at the gym.
Roach had earlier warned Pacquiao that Solis was not an easy opponent because he was 5’10” in height “fights a little like Erik Morales and is not a runner. He will stand and exchange with you.” Roach indicated his major concern was the many distractions surrounding Pacquiao and the fact that he hasn’t traned like he normally does for a fight , besides time being short.
Jason Aniel of Ring Talk reported that among the sparring partners lined up for Pacquiao were former WBC Interim lightweight champion Jose Armando Sta Cruz who has sparred with Pacquiao before and is the exact same height as Solis “though Sta Cruz likes to brawl and Solis has been reported as a counter-puncher.”
Aniel also reported that undefeated Jorge Linares who is a stablemate of undefeated WBA super featherweight champion Edwin Valero will also spar with Pacquiao which Aniel said “should be an intriguing workout session for both fighters.” For his first sparring session Justin Fortune who is Roach’s trusted assistant handling Pacquiao in his absence the Filipino ring idol will go up against an Australian brought in by Fortune.
Solis who will come face to face with Pacquiao for the first time at a news conference in Los Angeles Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) said after a hard day of training in the Otomi “I know people are saying Pacquiao is in for an easy fight but I’m undefeated and will be prepared to deliver the best performance of my career.” Solis told Fight News that he had been training “with high intensity” and needed to be in superb condition to win. He said Pacquiao is “very strong and fights at a very fast pace” and that was why he has been working on his strength and conditioning because he wanted “to be strong for the whole twelve rounds.” Solis added “I know my boxing skills are going to be the key to my victory.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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