Roach: I'll train Manny not to get hit
MANILA – The world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, Manny Pacquiao, is set to embark on an arduous training for his November 14 fight against Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Right now the plans are to train in Baguio City in the Philippines at the Olympic Training Center,” trainer Freddie Roach told David Tyler of DoghouseBoxing.com. “Because of immigration laws he must spend five weeks training outside America,” he said.
Roach explained that they will have to adjust Pacquiao’s training schedule because of the US immigration laws.
“The laws say we can spend 183 days (yearly) in America and that means the last three weeks of training will be here at the WildCard,” noted Roach who owns the WildCard Gym in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
Roach, who has been adjudged as the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) 2008 Trainer of the Year, also said that he has already watched some of Cotto’s bouts.
“I have been concentrating on how well he did against Shane Mosley. How he neutralized Shane’s speed,” he said. “Yes, we will have a great game plan for Cotto.”
One factor he considered about Cotto is the Puerto Rican’s punching power.
“Of course Cotto’s power is a major concern for me but I really think that we will have no problems,” said Roach. “I’m training Manny not to get hit.”
Meanwhile, it took a while before the Pacquiao-Cotto fight was finalized because of speculations on the Filipino’s next opponent following his May 2 knockout win over Ricky Hatton.
Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. were names that surfaced alongside Cotto as Pacquiao’s possible opponents.
Roach made it clear that it was not Pacquiao who chose to fight Cotto, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion.
“It wasn’t Manny’s decision. It was my decision and the group’s decision,” he pointed out. “The main reason? We will make more than twice as much money fighting Cotto than Mosley.”
Roach also disclosed that Pacquiao wanted to face the former pound-for-pound king, Mayweather.
“He never ask Arum to go get Cotto, he still wanted Mayweather first,” said the American trainer.
“Manny has always wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. The Mayweather fight got delayed because of injury and Manny needed a fight around year’s end. After watching the [Cotto-Joshua clottey] fight Manny told Arum that he could beat Cotto,” he added.
Roach then commented that even if Mayweather is a “great fighter and champion,” he is certain that Pacquiao will defeat him.
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Rodolfo Noel Lozada