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Trainer Freddie Roach is ready to fly over to Baguio to start training Manny Pacquiao for the November 14 bout with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. Roach, speaking with The Examiner, shot down rumors of Jose Luis Castillo being selected as a sparring partner for his fighter. Roach will make the trip on September 19. [details]
Coach Roach says he and Megamanny are on same page for Cotto training camp
He's still rankled over what he considers interference with his duties by Manny Pacquiao agent Michael Koncz but don't think loyal trainer Coach Freddie Roach isn't packing his boxing baggage to report for the Pacman training camp in Baguio.
"I will be there," Roach said Thursday morning in Manhattan. "I have my great prospect, the Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, fighting in Miami (ESPN) on Sept. 18. I will leave the next day for the Philippines."
Roach said all those trembling and quaking with fear in Pacland can relax.
"I don't read the Internet. But people read it to me and people tell me about it. But everything is getting under control. With training and training camp, one guy needs to be in control.
"And that is my job."
Roach dismissed reports that former world champion Jose Luis Castillo will be one of the Pacman sparring partners for the Nov. 14 Las Vegas bout against dangerous Miguel Cotto.
"Where did you hear that? Roach said. ""It is not true. Why would I use him, he is shot. I can't use a shot guy to get Manny ready for Cotto. I keep saying it but I will say it again, anyone who thinks Cotto is easy and is not dangerous is a complete fool."
So the Mexican with the notorious weight making issues was never in. Who will Pacquiao work with in the cool and leafy climes of Baguio, a five hour or so drive from Metro Manila?
Roach told me has four solid soldiers ready to report for duty.
"I've got Sean Porter. I've got Ray Serrano. I've got Urbano Antillon and I've got Manny's pal, David Revello. He is Manny's friend but David always give him good, solid work. David comes in to fight in camp."
"I have four guys who have the right styles for us to get ready for Cotto. Everyone thinks all Miguel does is attack but he can box also. This is a guy who was able to neutralize Shane Mosley's great speed. You have to take that into account."
Besides scotching the Castillo rumors, Roach reiterated that he was increasingly tired of Koncz sticking his long Canadian nose into the trainer's area of command and control.
"Last time he went and got Manny a sparring partner, he got some 168-pounder," Roach said. "He said he didn't know better. It's like the where are we training thing. He's afraid to ask Manny these things. So he should stay out of areas that are between me and Manny. The four guys I've got lined up...they will do the job."
Roach sees Rigondeaux, the Cuban southpaw, as a soaring prospect "who will be a world champion in 10 or 11 bouts. He's the best prospect I have seen since a younger Manny. Once his fight in Miami is over, I am off to Baguio."
Roach had a sit down session with Pacquiao at his Loew's Regency Hotel suite on Park Avenue late Wednesday night. The trainer said he has no concerns about Pacman putting his aside his show business and political concerns once they get to camp.
"It's no problem," Roach said. "Manny in training camp gives total concentration to his boxing. We've got no worries on that."
Talk turned to the Sept. 19 Juan Manuel Marquez-Floyd Mayweather PPV TV bout. I asked Roach if Juan Ma, who was so difficult and tenacious through 24 rounds against Megamanny, could upset the out of retirement Pretty Boy.
"I give Juan a chance but a small chance," Roach said. "I don't really see Marquez winning. I did hear that Floyd got his ass kicked in the gym the other day (against Lamont Peterson). Do I believe that story? No, not really but it's fun to hear about it."
Roach said he thinks the Mayweather camp has purposely downplayed two rotator cuff surgeries that the unbeaten Floyd has had.
"That could affect Floyd. I don't know which shoulder it is but he is always rolling those shoulders."
Roach said Team Pacquiao will be billeted in Baguio for five weeks and then move on, as always to his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Roach, who will turn 50 next March, said he has no thoughts of retirement for himself but does think Pacman won't stay around too much longer.
"For Manny, we've got Cotto and then maybe Mayweather. Negotiations with Mayweather will be very difficult. If it's not Mayweather, then I could see Mosley getting into the picture with Manny. I can see Manny quitting after two or three more fights.
"As for me, I spend 12 hours a day around the gym because I still love it. What else would I do with my time? I suck at golf so that is out. I'm going to keep doing what I do."
Coach Roach says he and Megamanny are on same page for Cotto training camp
He's still rankled over what he considers interference with his duties by Manny Pacquiao agent Michael Koncz but don't think loyal trainer Coach Freddie Roach isn't packing his boxing baggage to report for the Pacman training camp in Baguio.
"I will be there," Roach said Thursday morning in Manhattan. "I have my great prospect, the Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, fighting in Miami (ESPN) on Sept. 18. I will leave the next day for the Philippines."
Roach said all those trembling and quaking with fear in Pacland can relax.
"I don't read the Internet. But people read it to me and people tell me about it. But everything is getting under control. With training and training camp, one guy needs to be in control.
"And that is my job."
Roach dismissed reports that former world champion Jose Luis Castillo will be one of the Pacman sparring partners for the Nov. 14 Las Vegas bout against dangerous Miguel Cotto.
"Where did you hear that? Roach said. ""It is not true. Why would I use him, he is shot. I can't use a shot guy to get Manny ready for Cotto. I keep saying it but I will say it again, anyone who thinks Cotto is easy and is not dangerous is a complete fool."
So the Mexican with the notorious weight making issues was never in. Who will Pacquiao work with in the cool and leafy climes of Baguio, a five hour or so drive from Metro Manila?
Roach told me has four solid soldiers ready to report for duty.
"I've got Sean Porter. I've got Ray Serrano. I've got Urbano Antillon and I've got Manny's pal, David Revello. He is Manny's friend but David always give him good, solid work. David comes in to fight in camp."
"I have four guys who have the right styles for us to get ready for Cotto. Everyone thinks all Miguel does is attack but he can box also. This is a guy who was able to neutralize Shane Mosley's great speed. You have to take that into account."
Besides scotching the Castillo rumors, Roach reiterated that he was increasingly tired of Koncz sticking his long Canadian nose into the trainer's area of command and control.
"Last time he went and got Manny a sparring partner, he got some 168-pounder," Roach said. "He said he didn't know better. It's like the where are we training thing. He's afraid to ask Manny these things. So he should stay out of areas that are between me and Manny. The four guys I've got lined up...they will do the job."
Roach sees Rigondeaux, the Cuban southpaw, as a soaring prospect "who will be a world champion in 10 or 11 bouts. He's the best prospect I have seen since a younger Manny. Once his fight in Miami is over, I am off to Baguio."
Roach had a sit down session with Pacquiao at his Loew's Regency Hotel suite on Park Avenue late Wednesday night. The trainer said he has no concerns about Pacman putting his aside his show business and political concerns once they get to camp.
"It's no problem," Roach said. "Manny in training camp gives total concentration to his boxing. We've got no worries on that."
Talk turned to the Sept. 19 Juan Manuel Marquez-Floyd Mayweather PPV TV bout. I asked Roach if Juan Ma, who was so difficult and tenacious through 24 rounds against Megamanny, could upset the out of retirement Pretty Boy.
"I give Juan a chance but a small chance," Roach said. "I don't really see Marquez winning. I did hear that Floyd got his ass kicked in the gym the other day (against Lamont Peterson). Do I believe that story? No, not really but it's fun to hear about it."
Roach said he thinks the Mayweather camp has purposely downplayed two rotator cuff surgeries that the unbeaten Floyd has had.
"That could affect Floyd. I don't know which shoulder it is but he is always rolling those shoulders."
Roach said Team Pacquiao will be billeted in Baguio for five weeks and then move on, as always to his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Roach, who will turn 50 next March, said he has no thoughts of retirement for himself but does think Pacman won't stay around too much longer.
"For Manny, we've got Cotto and then maybe Mayweather. Negotiations with Mayweather will be very difficult. If it's not Mayweather, then I could see Mosley getting into the picture with Manny. I can see Manny quitting after two or three more fights.
"As for me, I spend 12 hours a day around the gym because I still love it. What else would I do with my time? I suck at golf so that is out. I'm going to keep doing what I do."
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