Roach, Ariza Expect Pacquiao To Punish, Stop Marquez

By Chris LaBate

Trainer Freddie Roach, and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, expect WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao to punish Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. They told the Philippine Star that Pacquiao dislikes Marquez because of the Mexican boxer's continued claims that he was robbed in their two previous meetings.

In his last two fights, against Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito, Roach and Ariza have been critical of Pacquiao's "nice guy" nature in the ring. They don't expect a nice guy on November 12th.

“I don’t think I’ve seen him more focused, and I think it’s because it’s personal, for sure. I don’t see Manny even touching gloves (with Marquez),” Ariza said. “He has a disdain for the guy, and I’ve never known him to dislike anyone. … Manny is still a nice guy and everything, but there’s something very Third World about him when he wants to be. He can be merciless. I’ve seen it, and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that. Usually he lets guys off the hook. He isn’t letting anybody off the hook.”

Roach is predicting a knockout in six rounds of less. After a twelve round draw in 2004, and a controversial split decision win in 2008, Roach believes a convincing knockout victory will finally shut Marquez's mouth.

“I don’t think this fight is going to go six rounds,” Roach said. “With Manny’s footwork, he’s just a completely different animal to the guy that fought Marquez the first time. (Marquez) has gotten up against Manny before, but I don’t think he’s going to be able to get up from the power Manny has now. He’s a much stronger guy than he was at those smaller weight classes. He’s just a completely different animal. We can put it to bed, finally shut them up, and be happy.”