By Edward Chaykovsky
Freddie Roach, trainer of WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, expects Floyd Mayweather Jr., holder of the WBC/WBA welterweight titles, to start fast in the early rounds - creating an exciting fight on May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Some fighters, like former three division world champion Shane Mosley, have advised Pacquiao to jump on Floyd in the early rounds - which is what Mosley did when he badly hurt Mayweather in the second round of their 2010 bout. Mosley is giving Pacquiao a four round window to get the job done, before Mayweather figures him out and takes over.
Roach has a different strategy, he does want to jump on Mayweather early, break him down, and then knock him out in the later rounds.
"I think Manny will win by knockout. I don’t have a round but the thing is, we have to break him down first and I think in the later rounds, I believe Manny will knock him out," Roach told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
While there is no rematch clause, Roach feels the fight will be exciting enough where the fans will demand a rematch.
"There’s no rematch clause but this fight’s so big that I think if it goes like I think it will and they both start early and they both go for the knockout early because Floyd’s legs are nearly gone. I know he’s gonna start quick and we’re gonna start quick also. I think the fans will demand a rematch, and I would love a rematch because I like making money, so it’s pretty good," Roach said.