By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach who has won the hearts of fight fans because of his tremendous work with Filipino boxers is eager to get at legendary Mexican Erik "El Terrible" Morales.
In an interview with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Roach said "I can't wait to beat this guy again" after Morales claimed he would "clobber Pacquiao much easier than the first fight" which he won by a twelve round unanimous decision. Morales said he was not afraid of the Filipino southpaw but that it was Pacquiao "who is scared of me."
Angered by the comments of Morales who was demolished by Pacquiao in their rematch, Roach said "I don't dislike too many people in boxing but this guy has a big mouth. He talks a lot . He says Manny is a bum, Manny is slow. I can't wait to beat this guy again."
Roach said he has had a lot of good wins in boxing but Pacquiao's win over Morales was his favorite because Morales "is a nasty guy. He's talking bad about the Philippine people. You know what, Manny is going to knock him out again."
The former trainer of the year also looked ahead at a rematch with reigning super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera sometime next year saying "I hope he takes a long vacation and waits for Manny because if he fights another fight he may get beat."
Roach predicted that Pacquiao would demolish Barrera adding "Manny is too much for him." He warned that should Barrera engage Rocky Juarez in a rematch Juarez "may put him away. He is a tough young kid." Roach indicated that Pacquiao may fight Juarez after he gets past Morales and Barrera.
