By Ronnie Nathanielsz
2003 “Trainer of the Year” Freddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao faces a tough fight against Mexican Hector Velazquez in their September 10 showdown at the Staples Center but predicts the Filipino southpaw will win by knockout “in the late rounds.”
In an interview for a Viva Sports pre-fight TV special Roach said “its not going to be an east fight. Its going to be hard because this guy (Velazquez) is coming to win because if he beats Manny he’ll get to fight Erik Morales next.”
Roach warned that Velazquez “is very durable” and has never been knocked out. He said the Mexican veteran “is going to give us a lot of rounds in the fight and the experts say he may go the distance.” However, Roach said they were “going to try to change that of course but Manny (Pacquiao) is going to have to be in top shape for this one.”
He said this was one of the reasons why “we are pushing so hard. We have to work much harder.” Roach conceded that he was “a little concerned” about Pacquiao’s late arrival in Los Angeles (last August 8) but said Pacquiao would “have to deal with it.” Roach said he would “make sure” Pacquiao is in shape on fight night.
The celebrated coach indicated that both Pacquiao and Morales who are supposed to win and force a rematch sometime in December or January next year are in “real tough fights and if someone makes a mistake and takes these fights lightly it could ruin everything.”
