Roach: Pacquiao will knock out Mayweather ‘very late in the fight’

MANILA, Philippines – Trainer Freddie Roach says that his boxer Manny Pacquiao will take down the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. via knockout when the two go head to head at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on May 2. 

In a phone interview with ESPN’s Skip Bayless, Roach said that he believes Pacquiao will bring down Mayweather “very late in the fight,” but also said that “it will be a process.” 

“Look,” Roach told Bayless, whose column talked about why Pacman would win. “This will be a very difficult fight. Floyd’s style will be very hard for Manny.” 

“Manny likes guys to come to him,” added Roach, who was recently given a seventh BWAA Trainer of the Year award. “and Floyd will run and he will box. He’s very clever. You have to avoid his traps.”

Roach also said that if the fight took place five years ago as initially planned, “maybe Floyd would’ve beaten Manny.” But in the present, “Manny has more heart right now.” 

(READ: Pacquiao to fly early to LA for training)

Mayweather (47-0-0, 26 knockouts) is known for his defensive prowess in the ring – a huge proponent why he remains undefeated at the age of 38.  

But with regards to punching, Roach says that his boxer’s next opponent is “a decent puncher,” even if he did credit him for his left hook that took down Ricky Hatton in the tenth round of their 2007 match. 

But Roach also took a jab, saying “He doesn’t sit down on punches that often. Bad hands. All the Mayweathers (referring to Mayweather Sr. and other relatives who were boxing champions and contenders)… small bodies, small hands.”

Roach also mentioned that Floyd, despite all the film-vieiwing he’ll do, will still be in for a surprise once he experiences fighting against Pacquiao’s world-class speed in the ring first hand. 

“You really don’t realize just how fast Manny is or how hard he hits until you actually get hit by him,” Roach said.

– Rappler.com