By Steve Kim
Freddie Roach has the distinct feeling that the usually amiable Manny Pacquiao doesn't particularly like Floyd Mayweather, who he faces on May 2nd with the WBO/WBA/WBC welterweight titles at stake at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"For the first time in my life, Manny, I get the real strong feeling doesn't like his opponent," opined Roach, from the downstairs portion of the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California.
"For the first time, ever, [I think he feels that way] because he wont say nothing good or nothing bad but he'll just stay neutral and I've never seen him like this before because sometimes when we go through the game plan and so forth, he becomes Mayweather in the ring and he gives me the shoulder, the bullsh*t, y'know and he just laughs if off and he goes away.
"So I don't think he really likes him and that's why I'm hoping...I know the religious trade-off, there's a lot of good things that he did in his life, he cleaned his life up, his family - I mean he made a lot of good decisions in his life when he changed religions but what we lost a little bit was the killer instinct."
For the record, Pacquiao didn't necessarily change his religion but reaffirmed his commitment to Christ in recent years and with that, well, perhaps a kinder and gentler 'Pac Man' emerged inside the ring. Roach would like to see the ferocity of the past.
"I think the last fight was a little better than usual," said Roach, on Pacquiao's dominant decision over Chris Algieri in November where he scored six knockdowns.
"I think it's going to carry over in this fight and I feel we'll light this guy up because Manny knocks out guys that he doesn't like. That's how he's been from day one. So I'm betting a knockout."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com
