Freddie Roach Interview
By Ace Freeman
“It’s a must win situation. There’s no doubt about it. We’re looking at it as a must win fight. ”
FightFan.com caught up with legendary trainer Freddie Roach at the famed WildCard Gym in Hollywood to get the latest on Manny Pacquiao’s training camp for his upcoming rubber match with arch rival Eric Morales.
Photo Credit: Miguel "Nimexicatl" Salazar
October 19, 2006
FF: Freddy thanks for taking the time to talk with the FightFans at FightFan.com. How are things?
FR: Things are going very well.
FF: How is Manny’s training coming along? What stage is he at?
FR: Manny’s in his second week of sparring now.
FF: What is his conditioning level like right now? Was it good coming into camp?
FR: He’s actually in very good shape right now. Currently his weight’s about 135lbs and he’s running 45 mins a day. He boxed ten rounds today. At this point he’s sparring three times a week.
FF: Is there any concern with Manny comfortably making the 130 pound limit?
FR: He’ll have no problem making the weight.
FF: What kind of sparring is he doing right now and what kinds of things are you developing?
FR: We’ve got Vicente Escobedo (Welterweight) and Charlie Hanshaw working with him and they’re both tall guys who have good jabs and Escobedo has fast hands. Just working to get ready for the fight.
FF: We noticed in the Larios fight that Manny seemed to be a bit more patient and was setting traps and counter punching. Is that something he’s added to his game and will we see more of that?
FR: A little bit. With Morales’ style that won’t be as effective. We’re definitely working on that and countering Morales’ jab with the right hook and it’s working out very well for him.
FF: Talk about Manny’s right hand. How much has it improved over the last 3 or 4 fights and will it play a big role in this 3rd Morales fight?
FR: I think it will play a role in the fight. Morales saw that it worked in the last fight and he’ll work on defending against it, but it’s something we’re working on and trying to perfect actually. Hopefully by fight time it will be better than his left.
FF: Freddie how important is it going to be for Manny to work the body, and will he be doing that with frequency right from the beginning?
FR: Definitely. Definitely something that’s very important. That’s what’s going to crush Morales. Last time out that was the final blow that took his legs away and that’s what killed him. We know that’s what we need to do again and we will.
FF: I don’t want to get into the weight issue with Morales, and I know you consider him a pro who will make weight. But it’s no secret he struggles to make the 130 pound limit. Will a body attack be instrumental in capitalizing on any weakness he may feel from making weight?
FR: Of course, that’s going to be key, definitely.
FF: I wanted to ask you this Freddie, before the first Morales-Pacquiao fight Manny was considered the favorite with many considering Morales a shot fighter and he seemed to feed off that. He was very relaxed and smiling leading up to that fight and seemed to draw something from being the underdog. Is there any concern with this fight that will build off that again, and are you and Manny taking him as seriously as you did for the rematch?
FR: I thought we took him lightly in the first fight thinking he was a shot fighter and that’s a mistake we made once. We won’t be making that mistake again.
FF: Is there the hunger within Manny for this fight? Is there a burning desire for him to beat Morales a 3rd time?
FR: It’s a must win situation. There’s no doubt about it. We’re looking at it as a must win fight.
FF: Manny is one of the most popular fighters and maybe people in the world when you consider how intense his celebrity is in the Philippines. You’ve seen that 1st hand having spent time over there. Does that pressure and expectation of a whole culture ever become a burden for him? Or does it motivate him?
FR: He feeds off it. He definitely enjoys it. He loves the people and he loves the audience and it really motivates him.
FF: I don’t want to ask for a prediction, but what can we expect from Manny on Nov. 18th?
FR: I expect him to knock Morales out in the late rounds again. He’ll break him down and knock him out. Morales had never been knocked out in his life and thought it was impossible. It happened, and now he knows it’s possible and I think it will come easier the second time around.
FF: Freddie thanks for doing this. We look forward to checking in with you and Manny closer to the fight.
FR: Thanks very much.
By Ace Freeman
“It’s a must win situation. There’s no doubt about it. We’re looking at it as a must win fight. ”
FightFan.com caught up with legendary trainer Freddie Roach at the famed WildCard Gym in Hollywood to get the latest on Manny Pacquiao’s training camp for his upcoming rubber match with arch rival Eric Morales.
Photo Credit: Miguel "Nimexicatl" Salazar
October 19, 2006
FF: Freddy thanks for taking the time to talk with the FightFans at FightFan.com. How are things?
FR: Things are going very well.
FF: How is Manny’s training coming along? What stage is he at?
FR: Manny’s in his second week of sparring now.
FF: What is his conditioning level like right now? Was it good coming into camp?
FR: He’s actually in very good shape right now. Currently his weight’s about 135lbs and he’s running 45 mins a day. He boxed ten rounds today. At this point he’s sparring three times a week.
FF: Is there any concern with Manny comfortably making the 130 pound limit?
FR: He’ll have no problem making the weight.
FF: What kind of sparring is he doing right now and what kinds of things are you developing?
FR: We’ve got Vicente Escobedo (Welterweight) and Charlie Hanshaw working with him and they’re both tall guys who have good jabs and Escobedo has fast hands. Just working to get ready for the fight.
FF: We noticed in the Larios fight that Manny seemed to be a bit more patient and was setting traps and counter punching. Is that something he’s added to his game and will we see more of that?
FR: A little bit. With Morales’ style that won’t be as effective. We’re definitely working on that and countering Morales’ jab with the right hook and it’s working out very well for him.
FF: Talk about Manny’s right hand. How much has it improved over the last 3 or 4 fights and will it play a big role in this 3rd Morales fight?
FR: I think it will play a role in the fight. Morales saw that it worked in the last fight and he’ll work on defending against it, but it’s something we’re working on and trying to perfect actually. Hopefully by fight time it will be better than his left.
FF: Freddie how important is it going to be for Manny to work the body, and will he be doing that with frequency right from the beginning?
FR: Definitely. Definitely something that’s very important. That’s what’s going to crush Morales. Last time out that was the final blow that took his legs away and that’s what killed him. We know that’s what we need to do again and we will.
FF: I don’t want to get into the weight issue with Morales, and I know you consider him a pro who will make weight. But it’s no secret he struggles to make the 130 pound limit. Will a body attack be instrumental in capitalizing on any weakness he may feel from making weight?
FR: Of course, that’s going to be key, definitely.
FF: I wanted to ask you this Freddie, before the first Morales-Pacquiao fight Manny was considered the favorite with many considering Morales a shot fighter and he seemed to feed off that. He was very relaxed and smiling leading up to that fight and seemed to draw something from being the underdog. Is there any concern with this fight that will build off that again, and are you and Manny taking him as seriously as you did for the rematch?
FR: I thought we took him lightly in the first fight thinking he was a shot fighter and that’s a mistake we made once. We won’t be making that mistake again.
FF: Is there the hunger within Manny for this fight? Is there a burning desire for him to beat Morales a 3rd time?
FR: It’s a must win situation. There’s no doubt about it. We’re looking at it as a must win fight.
FF: Manny is one of the most popular fighters and maybe people in the world when you consider how intense his celebrity is in the Philippines. You’ve seen that 1st hand having spent time over there. Does that pressure and expectation of a whole culture ever become a burden for him? Or does it motivate him?
FR: He feeds off it. He definitely enjoys it. He loves the people and he loves the audience and it really motivates him.
FF: I don’t want to ask for a prediction, but what can we expect from Manny on Nov. 18th?
FR: I expect him to knock Morales out in the late rounds again. He’ll break him down and knock him out. Morales had never been knocked out in his life and thought it was impossible. It happened, and now he knows it’s possible and I think it will come easier the second time around.
FF: Freddie thanks for doing this. We look forward to checking in with you and Manny closer to the fight.
FR: Thanks very much.
Comment