By Ronnie Nathanielsz
2003 "Trainer of the Year" Freddie Roach has predicted that Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao will win by a late round knockout against Erik "El Terrible" Morales in their showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 19.
In an exclusive interview with correspondent Jannelle So for Viva Sports, Roach said Pacquiao will overcome Morales advantage in size with his "speed and youth"
and will "rise to the occasion and knock this guy out."
Roach said "we will wear him (Morales) down, fight him hard and it will be like the Barrera fight" referring to Pacquiao's eleventh round annihilation of the legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas on November 15, 2003.Roach indicated that they would "leave no stone unturned for this one. We won't miss a thing" pointing out that from now on "its all work." The astute American trainer who helped hone the skills of Pacquiao that have further accentuated his devastating power said Pacquiao will work seven days a week because he wants to, but will only do roadwork on Sundays. Roach said he was "happy that we have the extra time" because of the cancellation of the February 26 rematch with WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez. He added, "we were a little cramped for the February date and this is a more comfortable date."
Roach revealed that he'd been "thinking about this fight for a long time because Morales is one of the best guys out there. He is the most popular Mexican fighter in the world and does better on pay-per-view than any Mexican fighter out there. It's a much more exciting fight because Morales will fight you." Roach predicted that a Pacquiao victory will put the flamboyant Filipino southpaw "right on top of the featherweight division and the winner will come out the best pound-for-pound in the world today.
Roach said "this is a huge fight for Manny because after this fight we can get the rematch with Barrera and Marquez. These fights are out there and its something to look forward to." Despite his predictions of a late round KO win by Pacquiao, Roach refused to sell Morales short saying "he is bigger and taller and this is definitely a cause for concern. Its also the first time Manny will be fighting at 130 pounds. Its only four pounds heavier than his normal 126 pound weight. Its not a lot but it makes a little bit of difference."
However, Roach indicated he thought Pacquiao at 130 pounds "will be even stronger than at 126 and hit even harder. Manny is a devastating puncher and when he hits people, they feel it." Pacquiao's trainer said they planned to "study tapes of Morales" recent fights and study him deeper than we've done so far." Roach disclosed he had picked out two sparring partners who were "perfect" and could duplicate the style of Morales in the gym. Roach said Team Pacquiao was "going to work really hard on the right like we did in the Philippines" while training for the December 11 encounter with Fahsan 3K Battery.
Roach noted that Pacquiao "showed some improvement in his last fight and he'll be even better when we get to Morales." Roach emphasized they were going to work "really hard in the nine weeks we have. Pacquiao has to be in great shape for this fight because its going to be a hard fight."
