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here's a copy of today's philippine star. this only shows how much erik respects manny, and how he regards manny highly. erik calling manny the best? geez, that's a very good thing to hear...
Roach to hold private session for Pacquiao
The Philippine Star 01/19/2005
Concerned about the distraction it would create on Manny Pacquiao’s training regimen, Wild Card Gym owner Freddie Roach on Monday asked the fans to allow him to hold private sessions for the Filipino boxing champion as he steps up his buildup for his much-hyped up superfight against Erik Morales on March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"This is one of the biggest fights for Manny and one of the most important. We want him to be in the best shape of his career," said Roach, the noted American trainer who helped transform Pacquiao from a mean boxer into a world-class fighter.
Hordes of fans stormed the Wild Card gym Monday, all eager to get a glimpse of the Filipino ring idol, who did five rounds with the mitts and had some weight training in a bid to add some extra muscles as he braces to move up and fight in the 130-lb division for the first time.
The fight, which has all the trimming of a classic war between two of the world’s best pound-for-pound boxers, will be shown live on HBO’s pay-per-view.
Roach said Pacquiao will train privately from Monday to Friday. And as a concession, the fans will have their day every Saturday where they can interact, pose for photos and ask for autographs. Sunday is a day off although Pacquiao has since insisted to work out on his rest day.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is also set to go to Mexico City tomorrow to promote his fight pending the issuance of their Mexican visas.
This came about as both boxing superstars refused to predict the outcome of their fight although they said they are both expecting a great, classic encounter.
"I don’t want to predict this fight because Morales is a great boxer, too. He’s a great warrior," said Pacquiao in an interview with **********.com’s Darren Nichols. "But this is a big challenge for me. He has a lot of fans, supporters and there’s a lot of Mexican people who will surely watch the fight."
What could boost Pacquiao’s confidence is the presence of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who said he would love to watch his fight and cheer for the Filipino boxing sensation.
"Well, I’d love to watch and cheer for Manny," said the First Gentleman, a big fan of Pacquiao. "But it depends on my schedule. Anyway, sa March pa naman ‘yan. If I’m anywhere in the US during that time, I’ll surely go to Las Vegas to watch that fight. We’ll see."
When asked what should people expect in his fight against Pacquiao, Morales, enjoying almost a two-inch advantage in height and experience in the 130-lb division, said: "It’s just going to be a great fight. You have two high-caliber fighters and you’re going to see a great fight."
The 28-year-old Morales added that it’s a great challenge to take on a guy like Pacquiao, whom he has high regards what with the Filipino fighter’s achievements, including an 11-round demolition of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, who beat Morales last November.
"I always wanted to fight the best fighter there is. That’s what we’re here for – to fight against the best," said Morales.
Pacquiao, back in Los Angeles after a two-day business trip to San Francisco, is bracing for what could be the biggest and toughest fight of his checkered boxing career with the 26-year-old Filipino going up in weight (130 lbs) to fight one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
That move, however, doesn’t worry Roach a bit.
"I don’t think size would matter in this fight. Manny’s capable of fighting anybody in the super featherweight. We’ll get Manny in the greatest shape we can," said Roach.
To make his ward a complete fighter, Roach said he would work on Pacquiao’s right hook.
"He’s has a great left hand. He has equal power in the right hand but just doesn’t have the confidence. We’re just building on that making him a more complete fighter. We’re not teaching him anything new," said Roach. "But we have to make some adjustments because of Morales’ height and the weight a little bit. Morales likes to fight from a longer distance than we do so we’re going to try to get close and take that away from him."
Roach to hold private session for Pacquiao
The Philippine Star 01/19/2005
Concerned about the distraction it would create on Manny Pacquiao’s training regimen, Wild Card Gym owner Freddie Roach on Monday asked the fans to allow him to hold private sessions for the Filipino boxing champion as he steps up his buildup for his much-hyped up superfight against Erik Morales on March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"This is one of the biggest fights for Manny and one of the most important. We want him to be in the best shape of his career," said Roach, the noted American trainer who helped transform Pacquiao from a mean boxer into a world-class fighter.
Hordes of fans stormed the Wild Card gym Monday, all eager to get a glimpse of the Filipino ring idol, who did five rounds with the mitts and had some weight training in a bid to add some extra muscles as he braces to move up and fight in the 130-lb division for the first time.
The fight, which has all the trimming of a classic war between two of the world’s best pound-for-pound boxers, will be shown live on HBO’s pay-per-view.
Roach said Pacquiao will train privately from Monday to Friday. And as a concession, the fans will have their day every Saturday where they can interact, pose for photos and ask for autographs. Sunday is a day off although Pacquiao has since insisted to work out on his rest day.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is also set to go to Mexico City tomorrow to promote his fight pending the issuance of their Mexican visas.
This came about as both boxing superstars refused to predict the outcome of their fight although they said they are both expecting a great, classic encounter.
"I don’t want to predict this fight because Morales is a great boxer, too. He’s a great warrior," said Pacquiao in an interview with **********.com’s Darren Nichols. "But this is a big challenge for me. He has a lot of fans, supporters and there’s a lot of Mexican people who will surely watch the fight."
What could boost Pacquiao’s confidence is the presence of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who said he would love to watch his fight and cheer for the Filipino boxing sensation.
"Well, I’d love to watch and cheer for Manny," said the First Gentleman, a big fan of Pacquiao. "But it depends on my schedule. Anyway, sa March pa naman ‘yan. If I’m anywhere in the US during that time, I’ll surely go to Las Vegas to watch that fight. We’ll see."
When asked what should people expect in his fight against Pacquiao, Morales, enjoying almost a two-inch advantage in height and experience in the 130-lb division, said: "It’s just going to be a great fight. You have two high-caliber fighters and you’re going to see a great fight."
The 28-year-old Morales added that it’s a great challenge to take on a guy like Pacquiao, whom he has high regards what with the Filipino fighter’s achievements, including an 11-round demolition of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, who beat Morales last November.
"I always wanted to fight the best fighter there is. That’s what we’re here for – to fight against the best," said Morales.
Pacquiao, back in Los Angeles after a two-day business trip to San Francisco, is bracing for what could be the biggest and toughest fight of his checkered boxing career with the 26-year-old Filipino going up in weight (130 lbs) to fight one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
That move, however, doesn’t worry Roach a bit.
"I don’t think size would matter in this fight. Manny’s capable of fighting anybody in the super featherweight. We’ll get Manny in the greatest shape we can," said Roach.
To make his ward a complete fighter, Roach said he would work on Pacquiao’s right hook.
"He’s has a great left hand. He has equal power in the right hand but just doesn’t have the confidence. We’re just building on that making him a more complete fighter. We’re not teaching him anything new," said Roach. "But we have to make some adjustments because of Morales’ height and the weight a little bit. Morales likes to fight from a longer distance than we do so we’re going to try to get close and take that away from him."
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