By Edward Chaykovsky
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is feeling some of the pressure as the training camp continues for the upcoming mega-fight between his star fighter, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, and undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., who holds the WBC/WBA welterweight titles. The fight takes place on May 2nd from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The two best fighters of this generation just happen to be in the same weight division. Pacquiao with eight divisional titles and Mayweather capturing titles in five weight division.
Roach admits the winner will likely be regarding in a higher standing, historically, regardless of their past accomplishments.
"I feel we have to win this fight. This is a must-win situation. We don't want to be second best. Second best no one remembers," Roach said to Rolling Stone.
To pump Pacquiao up during training sessions, Roach says that he whispers words of motivation to bring out the "killer instinct" in the Filipino star. Roach has an enormous amount of respect for Mayweather as a fighter, but has very little respect for him as a person.
"He's a bad guy," Roach whispers in Pacquiao's ear. "He's bad for boxing. You'll be doing a courtesy to the world if you knock him out. He knows he's a bad person."
