Roach eyes early training camp for Pacquiao

Expecting a drawn-out tactical war, trainer Freddie Roach wants to hold an early training camp to better prepare Manny Pacquiao for his March 13 megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The Hall of Fame trainer said he wants to get started by Jan. 5 or 6, giving the Pacman some nine weeks of solid training for this tough showdown.

In the end, though, he expects his prized ward to prevail – via the scorecards.

"I think it's going to be a tough fight for both guys. I think Pacquiao will win a twelve round decision. I think we have our work cut for us. The last four or five fights, we fought guys who come for you and try to destroy you. Now we are fighting the complete opposite. A guy who moves away, very defensive," Roach said in the interview with BoxingScene.com.

"We are going to set traps. We are going to stay away from Mayweather's traps because he's very smart," he added.

Given the expected nature of the fight, the outspoken trainer said it is imperative for Team Pacquiao to get sufficient time getting into shape and devising strategies against the unbeaten Mayweather.

"It’s a very tactical fight.That's why I want to start camp early. A month in Baguio, a month in LA and then the final week in Vegas. [We will start] as soon as the press conference is over. Bob (Promoter Bob Arum) tells me there will be one press conference in New York. As soon as that's over, we will get started around the 5th or 6th (of January)," he said.

There will be concerns, though, that Pacquiao’s congressional bid in next year’s elections might
get in the way of his training camp for Mayweather.

Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao during their training camp in Baguio City for his last fight with Miguel Cotto. Dave Leprozo


But in earlier interviews, Pacquiao maintained that he would only get busy with his political activities by March 26 yet, the start of campaign period for local candidates, nearly two weeks after the superbout.

Pacquiao and Mayweather have agreed in principle to lock horns in a battle of pound-of-pound greats on March 13, although finer details are still on the negotiating table.

The stipulated weight under the proposed fight contract would be 147-lbs, with Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title on the line, but Roach said they would not allow a repeat of Mayweather’s tactic against Juan Manuel Marquez. Against Marquez, Mayweather came in above the contractual weight and paid $600,000 but went on to thoroughly dominate an undersized Marquez.

The Mayweather camp has also batted for an Olympic-style drug testing for fight, which is just fine by Roach. The trainer’s only objection is the proposed taking of blood samples.

"Nevada is a great commission. They have drug testing that is sufficient. The issue I have is this, I will not let anyone take blood out of Manny Pacquiao six-weeks before a fight because that will mentally affect him. If they want a urine test or something else. Olympic-style drug testing, they do urine tests. I have no problem with that," Roach told BoxingScene.com.

The Olympic-style dope test apparently stemmed from an earlier insinuation from Mayweather’s father, trainer Floyd Sr. that Pacquiao may be on to something as he ascends in weight.

But Pacquiao, who celebrated his 31st birthday in his native General Santos City Thursday, has denied such accusations and proved it by testing negative for steroids and other performance-enhancing substances for his recent duel with Miguel Cotto and other fights. - GMANews.TV

Source: gmanews.tv