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Sunday, September 13, 2009
Knockout win for Pacquiao unlikely Roach
By Jun Medina, Special Correspondent
Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao will be up against a big, strong and intelligent foe when he fights world welterweight Miguel Cotto on November 14, according to Freddie Roach.
̉This is the hardest fight of our life. I believe that 100 percent, said Roach, who almost prophetically predicted sensational knockout wins for Pacquiao against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. "I don't think we can win by knock out this time. I think we will win via a decision."
Considered the best trainer in the world today, Roach seemed to be bothered by the limited time Pacquiao has to prepare for what he considers Manny's biggest challenge.
Both coach and boxer are agreed that Cotto, 28 and well in his prime has the advantage in size and strength.
Unlike Pacquiao, who started fighting professionally as a flyweight, Cotto is a natural welterweight. And Roach thinks the size and strength factors would be a problem for his favorite fighter.
"[Cotto] is very big. He nullified Shane Mosley's speed, Roach told Scott Dryden of ProFighting-fans.com. "He is a very intelligent fighter. Anyone that says this is an easy fight is a fool."
Roach said Cotto is a "tough guy" who has been in training camp for three weeks. In contrast, Pacquiao has admitted that he still has to whip himself into shape and will not be going to training camp until the end of the five-day press tour to drum up support for the super fight booked on November 14 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Roach thinks Cotto has tremendous motivation because a win against the Filipino pound-for-pound boxing king would catapult the Puerto Rican star to the top of the boxing world.
"If [Cotto] wins this fight everything bad that has happened in his career goes away. This is the fight of his life. Anyone that expects anything different would be a fool," said Roach, a three-time Trainer of the Year.
Cotto is aware of the high stakes, and he said at the New York City launch of the fight that he started training early because he does not want to leave anything to chance.
"I prepared early to win this fight. I feel good right now and there will be no excuses when the fight comes," Cotto said.
A great team player, Roach is frustrated that Team Pacquiao would be cramming at training camp, unable to reach the eight- to 10-weeks norm that a boxer needs to reach tip-top shape for big fights.
Roach said they will begin training camp on September 20 in Baguio City, the Philippines summer capital.
This gives Pacquiao seven weeks to train at most, taking into account travel time and allowance for jet lag.
The crucial question foremost in the minds of fans and pundits alike is whether seven weeks is enough preparation for Pacquiao to take on a big and strong welterweight like Cotto.
Roach, Pacquiao's trainer for more than eight years, is painfully aware how his prized fighter had struggled when he came less than 100 percent prepared for a big fight. This happened in Pacquiao's first fight with Erik Morales, which he lost by unanimous decision; and again in the rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera, which "PacMan" won in less than convincing fashion.
Knockout win for Pacquiao unlikely Roach
By Jun Medina, Special Correspondent
Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao will be up against a big, strong and intelligent foe when he fights world welterweight Miguel Cotto on November 14, according to Freddie Roach.
̉This is the hardest fight of our life. I believe that 100 percent, said Roach, who almost prophetically predicted sensational knockout wins for Pacquiao against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. "I don't think we can win by knock out this time. I think we will win via a decision."
Considered the best trainer in the world today, Roach seemed to be bothered by the limited time Pacquiao has to prepare for what he considers Manny's biggest challenge.
Both coach and boxer are agreed that Cotto, 28 and well in his prime has the advantage in size and strength.
Unlike Pacquiao, who started fighting professionally as a flyweight, Cotto is a natural welterweight. And Roach thinks the size and strength factors would be a problem for his favorite fighter.
"[Cotto] is very big. He nullified Shane Mosley's speed, Roach told Scott Dryden of ProFighting-fans.com. "He is a very intelligent fighter. Anyone that says this is an easy fight is a fool."
Roach said Cotto is a "tough guy" who has been in training camp for three weeks. In contrast, Pacquiao has admitted that he still has to whip himself into shape and will not be going to training camp until the end of the five-day press tour to drum up support for the super fight booked on November 14 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Roach thinks Cotto has tremendous motivation because a win against the Filipino pound-for-pound boxing king would catapult the Puerto Rican star to the top of the boxing world.
"If [Cotto] wins this fight everything bad that has happened in his career goes away. This is the fight of his life. Anyone that expects anything different would be a fool," said Roach, a three-time Trainer of the Year.
Cotto is aware of the high stakes, and he said at the New York City launch of the fight that he started training early because he does not want to leave anything to chance.
"I prepared early to win this fight. I feel good right now and there will be no excuses when the fight comes," Cotto said.
A great team player, Roach is frustrated that Team Pacquiao would be cramming at training camp, unable to reach the eight- to 10-weeks norm that a boxer needs to reach tip-top shape for big fights.
Roach said they will begin training camp on September 20 in Baguio City, the Philippines summer capital.
This gives Pacquiao seven weeks to train at most, taking into account travel time and allowance for jet lag.
The crucial question foremost in the minds of fans and pundits alike is whether seven weeks is enough preparation for Pacquiao to take on a big and strong welterweight like Cotto.
Roach, Pacquiao's trainer for more than eight years, is painfully aware how his prized fighter had struggled when he came less than 100 percent prepared for a big fight. This happened in Pacquiao's first fight with Erik Morales, which he lost by unanimous decision; and again in the rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera, which "PacMan" won in less than convincing fashion.
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