Roach: Mayweather can’t run, can’t hide

LOS ANGELES, USA – Floyd Mayweather at 38 could be the perfect target for Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino ring icon’s trainer Freddie Roach said Wednesday, March 11 (Thursday in Manila).

As Mayweather and Pacquiao turned out for their only joint press conference in the build-up to their May 2 mega-fight, Roach said the unbeaten Mayweather’s vaunted defensive abilities are waning.

“His legs are little bit shot. He’s slowed down quite a bit,” Roach said, adding that he believes Mayweather would have had a better chance of beating Pacquiao 5 years ago, when attempts to make the fight fell apart.

“He is going to have to exchange more,” Roach added — with a pithy dismissal of the idea that Mayweather has recently become more willing to go toe-to-toe in an effort to please fans.

“That’s bullshit,” Roach said. “He doesn’t care about the fans. He has to exchange more because his legs won’t take him out of the way … if he has to exchange with Manny Pacquiao he is in trouble.”

Mayweather brings a record of 47-0 with 26 knockouts to the bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

READ: Mayweather: I have nothing to prove vs Pacquiao

Although Pacquiao is two years his junior, it was the Filipino whose career appeared to be on the wane after back to back defeats in 2012.

Since then, however, the southpaw has won three fights in a row to take his record to 57-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts.

He’s the underdog, but said Wednesday that just adds fuel to his competitive fire.

“I like that,” Pacquiao said. “It gives me more motivation, more determination to focus on the fight and prove something.”

‘We’ll kick Mayweather’s ass’

Roach did not mince his words as he wrapped up his comments with a blunt assessment of Pacquiao’s task.

“We’re fighting the best fighter in the world — and we’re going to kick his ass,” Roach said to cheers from sections of the audience, with Mayweather sitting just a few feet away on the stage in Los Angeles.

“I love challenges and this is the biggest challenge of my life,” Roach said. “It’s finally here. I’ve been looking forward to this fight for years.

“It’s the toughest fight of our life. I’m going to get my fighter as ready as possible.”

Pacquiao’s bout with the unbeaten Mayweather represents the climax to years of will-they won’t-they speculation surrounding the possibility of a showdown between the two rivals, widely regarded as the finest fighters of their generation.

The fight finally became a reality earlier this year when Pacquiao and Mayweather met informally at an NBA game and expressed a mutual desire to make the contest finally happen.

“It’s been a long road, but we’re here now,” Mayweather said. “It’s all about the best fighting the best, and Pacquiao is one of the best.”

TIMELINE: The road to Pacquiao-Mayweather

May’s fight is expected to be the highest-grossing bout in history, with Mayweather reportedly set to collect a staggering $120 million while Pacquiao will pocket a cool $80 million. – Rappler.com