By Michael Marley
If he had his druthers, Coach Freddie Roach's masterful fight plan for Manny Pacquiao's Nov. 13 bout would be a course entitled "How To Beat Floyd Mayweather 101."
But Mayweather backed away from the negotiating table for the second time and Roach had to look at other options for Pacman's first bout as a Congressman.
"Obviously, I wanted Mayweather but this guy (Antonio Margarito) is the second best guy out there. I was keen on a third bout against Juan Manuel (Marquez) also. I just want to shut the fighter up and a third fight would do that.
"Nacho (trainer Beristain) and I had issues but we're okay now. I know a lot of people think Juan Manuel has Manny's number but it's not so."
Roach had opposed Margarito as a Manny foe because of the huge height (MP is 5-6 1/2 to AM's towering 5-11) and reach differentials (MP's reach is 66 1/2 to AM's 73 inches) but now feels comfortable.
The perennial "Trainer Of The Year" honoree said speed will be the equalizer in the Mutt 'n' Jeff matchup.
"Margarito's got the muscle, yeah," Roach said Wednesday. "But I don't think he can handle Manny's speed."
Roach discounts the Mexican's lackluster showing against Sugar Shane Mosley because he feels Margarito had a clouded mind after Mosley's trainer Naazim Richardson got illegal inserts removed from the handwraps.
"That has an effect on you, especially if it's something you had before. It takes you out of your comfort zone. That's the mental side of the game, really."
Roach thinks Pacman will devote himself solely to boxing once they set up camp in the rarefied mountain air of Baguio.
"Manny is taking time off from politics," Roach said, "so everything will be fine. We will work there and then go to my Wild Card Gym. Manny won't miss a day of training."
Based on their chemistry and record together, who can question that?
Michael Marley is the national boxing examiner for examiner.com. To read more stories by Michael Marley, Click Here .