Roach explains why Pacquiao dislikes Floyd

Celebrated boxing trainer Freddie Roach is convinced that his prized pupil, Manny Pacquiao, is not too fond of his May 2 opponent, unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr., even as the "Pacman" refuses to talk trash about "Money."

"For the first time in my life with Manny Pacquiao, this is the first fighter he hasn't like. I can tell," Roach said in a story by USA Today.

Pacquiao did not say anything bad about Mayweather during the lone press conference before their highly anticipated super fight, but the American has a history of badmouthing his Filipino opponent.

Mayweather famously went on a racist rant against Pacquiao in 2010 and has in the past accused the "Pacman" of using performance-enhancing drugs, forcing Pacquiao to sue him for defamation. The suit was eventually settled out of court.

But Roach believes the primary reason that Pacquiao dislikes Mayweather so intensely is the American's history of domestic abuse.

"Manny is really against domestic violence," Roach told USA Today. "it's a big issue maybe in the Philippines for him, and being a congressman, he can control some of that stuff."

"That is a big plus for me, that Manny does not like the guy. I think the killer instinct is going to come back a lot faster," he said.

Mayweather has a long history of domestic abuse issues, and in 2012, he served time in a Nevada detention facility after a guilty plea on a domestic violence charge.

Roach has not been shy about calling Mayweather a "bad role model," especially for children, and admitted that he sees the upcoming Pacquiao-Mayweather fight as a battle of "good against evil."

"I even thought about bringing a couple of metro cops from Vegas to tell Manny how many times (Mayweather) has been arrested, and how bad of a guy he is," Roach said. "But I decided I can't go that far."

"He already doesn't like him. I think we're okay," he added.

Mayweather's domestic violence charges also resonates negatively with Roach, who grew up in an abusive household.

"I grew up with (domestic violence), and I realized a bit later in life that it wasn't right. I didn't know when I was little," he said, revealing that his father was physically abusive towards his mother.

"To be honest with you, I was scared to death of him. His answer for everything was to use his fists," he added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Roach satisfied after Pacquiao's first day of sparring

Chief trainer Freddie Roach was thrilled with what he saw from Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao after his first day of sparring.

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reported that Pacquiao sparred for five rounds on Tuesday at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, where he is holding his training camp for his May 2 bout against Floyd Mayweather.

He sparred for two rounds against Finland's Edis Tatli, then three more rounds against Kenneth Sims Jr., a welterweight prospect from Chicago.

"When Manny threw out the first punch, it felt like opening day of Irish spring training," Roach told ESPN.com. "Manny looked so fresh today."

"I'm very happy with what he showed me. You couldn't tell he had been away from the ring since the (Chris) Algieri fight in November. Manny is on fire in the gym," he added.

Pacquiao, for his part, said it felt great "to finally put on the headgear and spar."

"My sparring partners gave me good work today. They were perfect for testing the strategy Freddie and I have developed to beat Floyd Mayweather," said Pacquiao. "I was very happy with my stamina and speed today."

Roach is extraordinarily confident that Pacquiao will be triumphant on May 2, even though the Filipino is considered the underdog against the unbeaten American.

"I am confident May 2 will be celebrated for years to come as St. Manny's Day – the day he drove Mayweather out of boxing," said the trainer.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Roach eyes Marquez or Mayweather next

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach can only think of two names when asked about Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.

They are the old, familiar names: Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Marquez has fought Pacquiao four times but may consider a fifth fight.

Mayweather, on the other hand, still can’t make one fight with Pacquiao happen.

But Roach isn’t closing the door on anything.

Pacquiao returned home on Good Friday and took the next available flight to General Santos City to be with his pregnant wife and their four kids.

After he defeated Tim Bradley in a rematch, Roach was asked what or who should be next for Pacquiao.

“Marquez is a big fight for us,” he said of the 40-year-old Mexican, who knocked Pacquiao out the last time they were inside the ring in December 2012.

“If Marquez likes it I want that fight,” said Roach.

“And if Mayweather is interested, we’d fight him, too,” added Pacquiao’s trainer.

Pacquiao said his line is open 24/7 and all he’s waiting for is a call from Mayweather, the American idol.

Mayweather is set to face Marcos Maidana on May 3 at the MGM in Las Vegas while Marquez will be up against Mike Alvarado on May 17 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Mayweather is tipped to beat Maidana even before they climb the ring while Marquez will be hard pressed against Alvarado.

Marquez lost to Bradley on points in October last year, and his coming fight should weigh heavily on his future plans as a boxer.

If he beats Alvarado, he can ask for the moon for a fifth fight with Pacquiao.

Marquez is not looking ahead of Alvarado. He spoke to Fight Hype a couple days ago, and said he’s not thinking of Pacquiao at the moment.

Marquez sounded like he’s even pushing for Pacquiao vs Mayweather.

“I already have four fights with Pacquiao and a lot of people would prefer to see these two rivals in the ring. I think if we voted on what fight people want to see I’m sure they’d want to see Pacquiao vs Mayweather,” he said.

“There’s talk of a fifth fight but I do not lose sleep. I am preparing to fight against Alvarado and the other (fight) doesn’t interest me,” Marquez added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Roach warns Bradley about engaging Pacquiao

If Timothy Bradley decides to slug it out with Manny Pacquiao, he will get hurt.

This is why boxing coach Freddie Roach plans to have Pacquiao corner and pressure the WBO welterweight titlist to make mistakes.

"He's a good boxer but sometimes he tends to get into a fight, and that's when he mistakes, because he likes to exchange sometimes,” Roach told The Sweet Science.

The trainer said that’s what happened when his fighter Ruslan Provodnikov engaged Bradley in a slugfest. Although the Russian lost by points, he got Bradley hurt in the final round.

Roach said they plan to do the same when Pacquiao meets the American boxer on the April 12 rematch.

“When he exchanges with Manny, Manny is the better, faster puncher, and the better puncher of the two, and like Ruslan was, and he'll be able to hurt him,” he said.

But Roach is also aware that Bradley might choose to play safe and try to win by points again.

Although he is confident that Pacquiao can win a tactical match, he said he is afraid that the fight would turn out boring.

“If he runs the whole night long, then he'll make it a little bit of a boring fight. But it's hard to a win backing up so there will be points where he'll have to exchange with us, and we're going to have the advantage, I think," said Roach.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Roach wants rematches with Bradley, Marquez

MANILA, Philippines – Now that Manny Pacquiao has proven he can still compete at a high level with his beatdown of Brandon Rios, his trainer wants the “Pacman” to avenge the two losses that he incurred in 2012.

Pacquiao lost to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez in contrasting fashion last year.

In June 2012, he was stunned when Bradley was awarded a split decision victory in their fight, which he clearly won. But in December, Marquez landed a picture-perfect right hand with a second to go in the sixth round that knocked Pacquiao out cold.

Pacquiao bounced back by routing Rios in Macau last weekend in what was his first fight since losing to Marquez last year.

Following the victory, trainer Freddie Roach said that he hopes Pacquiao can avenge both losses.

“Personally, I want Marquez, but the thing is I can’t be sure if we can get him to fight us,” Roach said, as quoted by Boxing Scene, noting that the Mexican wants “a lot of money.”

Marquez has also been reluctant to commit to a fifth fight against Pacquiao, repeatedly saying he is satisfied with having gotten the last word in their rivalry.

Roach told RingTV that he feels it is unfair that Marquez is refusing to give Pacquiao a rematch, considering the history between the two fighters.

“I don’t like the way he gloats about how he finally beat Manny Pacquioa, and that he got robbed all those other times and stuff like that. He turned us down for a rematch, but we gave him three rematches,” Roach pointed out.

“I think he owes us one,” he added.

Bradley, who recently beat Marquez in their showdown to retain the WBO welterweight belt that he won off Pacquiao, is another option.

“Bradley is out there,” Roach said. “I think Bradley is someone that we have to avenge that loss, even though he won that fight so easily.”

Unlike Marquez, Bradley has made no secret of his desire to fight Pacquiao again, as he wants to prove that he deserved his June 2012 victory and is also keen to beat the “Pacman” in more decisive fashion.

Roach also said they still want to fight unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao is tentatively scheduled to return on April 12, 2014, and his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, said they have yet to discuss the return fight.

“We’ll talk to Manny, we’ll talk to Freddie, but I know we are tentatively scheduled for April 12, hopefully in the United States,” Arum said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Roach planning 'toughest ever' training camp

MANILA, Philippines – Hall-of-Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach is planning a tough training camp for his prized ward, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, to prepare the Filipino boxer for his November 24 clash against Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios.

Roach’s assistant, Marvin Somodio, told PNA’s Eddie Alinea that Roach is working hard on Pacquiao’s regimen, as the Rios fight will be a big test for the Pacman.


“Coach Freddie hasn’t revealed yet what kind of preparation awaits, but what he told us is that it will be the toughest ever for Manny,” Somodio said, adding that Roach wants Pacquiao to have a training camp with no distractions.

Pacquiao’s training camp for Rios will be held in General Santos City. The boxer has already started light training, but the camp will officially begin in October, when Roach arrives in the country.

“One month ang itatagal ng camp sa GenSan before proceeding to Macau for the remaining two weeks of preparations,” Somodio told Alinea. “That’s the plan, at least for now. Kung may mababago man, it depends on the developments from now until late September.”

Somodio stressed that they are preparing Pacquiao “to win by knockout – no more, no less.”

“Coach Freddie knows how important Manny’s coming fight with Rios is for the remainder of his career,” he said. “He prepared a build-up regimen needed to achieve our purpose.”

Pacquiao, who sustained a slight sprain on his ankle while playing basketball last weekend, will spar with British boxer Liam Vaughan and China’s Lian Hui in the early parts of training camp.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com