Roach: No Surprise if Mayweather Pulls Out of The Fight

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. - It was Manny Media Mania at Wednesday's media workout for Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero Congressman MANNY "Pacman" PACQUIAO.  Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), who represents the Sarangani province in the Philippines, hosted a Hollywood Media Workout with his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and Hall of Promoter Bob Arum.   

Over 300 media from around the globe flocked to Wild Card Boxing Club to ask the trio about Pacquiao's May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD "Money" MAYWEATHER JR. (47-0, 26 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

FREDDIE ROACH, Pacquiao's Hall of Fame Trainer

"We have a great idea of when and where we are going to attack Mayweather.

"This fight was five years in the making. Promoters should realize that these types of fights are what's best for boxing and we should have more fights like this. I'm not surprised by the hype surrounding the fight.

"Manny has really raised the bar in this training camp. He's a different Manny Pacquiao than I have seen him going into previous training camps. He is punching so much harder in training for this camp.

"Manny is better than ever, his attitude is different and I've never seen him work this hard. His speed is faster, his punches are harder. I'm really happy where he's at. His legs look great; he's on his toes all the time.

"Mayweather is a good counter-puncher, but Manny has faster hands and his combinations are better than Floyd's.

"Both fighters have great experience, so I don't believe that will be a factor in the fight. The biggest thing is that each fighter comes in with a different style. Floyd is a counter-puncher but Manny must be the one to enforce the fight.

"I believe that Manny being a southpaw will be a factor in this fight. Manny showed me tape of Floyd fighting a southpaw and told me that that is exactly what we are going to do in this fight.

"I can tell how much this fight means to Manny because he has watched tape on Floyd. Manny has never watched tape on any fighter before.

"Since Manny moved to 147 he hasn't knocked many guys out, so getting the knockout in this fight isn't a concern for me. If Manny fights at 140, then he does knock guys out, but at this weight he is fighting guys who are bigger than him.

"Floyd may be a bigger guy, but we will still win the fight.

"This fight is much bigger than when Manny fought Oscar De La Hoya. Manny is a different person going into this fight. He hit me so hard the other day that I believe it's the hardest I've ever been hit by a fighter who I'm training.

"I don't believe that Floyd ever wanted this fight, he was forced to take it by the public and the media. I wouldn't be surprised if Floyd pulled out now."