Roach: Mayweather won’t be ready for Pacquiao’s speed and power

MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach is banking on Manny Pacquiao’s speed and power to carry him to an upset victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Roach, who is in Macau helping Chinese boxer Zou Shiming prepare for his challenge of IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng on March 7, tells Rappler that he feels opponents underestimate Pacquiao’s athletic ability, to their own detriment. 

“Manny does have power and Mayweather does not do well with southpaws. I think that’s the big factor in the fight. He really doesn’t understand how fast Manny is and he doesn’t understand how hard he hits,” Roach said. 

“Most people are devastated by the first round. [Pacquiao’s last opponent] Chris Algieri told me: “I studied him, I watched him, I knew how fast he was but it was nothing like that in the ring. He’s 10 times faster than most people realize.’”

“Manny does have power in both hands. We have developed the right hand to be as good as the left hand at this point. We’ve worked on that a long time and it’s just usage over and over again. When you have a southpaw like Manny Pacquiao with speed, that is the best in the world. It’s more than just a regular southpaw.”

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 knockouts) of General Santos City, Philippines began training camp on Monday, March 2 (Tuesday Manila time) under the supervision of assistants Buboy Fernandez and Marvin Somodio, while Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) also started his camp at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas. 

Roach has coached against Mayweather before, most notably in the 2006 when Oscar de la Hoya lost a split-decision to Mayweather. He says Mayweather’s power is deceptively good and remains leery of the 36-year-old American’s counterpunching ability.

“He can set you up and walk you into a punch. He got Ricky Hatton to follow him and walked him into a knockout punch. He doesn’t always sit down on his punches, he has bad hands. Sometimes when he sits down he does have some power, yes.” 

Still, he feels that Mayweather isn’t a particularly dangerous opponent, but a very tricky one.

“He’s very defensive. I don’t think he’s really that dangerous, he’s not a big puncher. He has knocked guys out before in the past but not in awhile. He’s very clever though and he is a good boxer, but that ring is only so big. We will really have to work on ring generalship, cutting off the ring and setting traps better.” 

Mayweather’s multi-layered defense is most represented in his trademark shoulder roll posture, where he puts his lead left shoulder in front of his chin and draws counterpunch opportunities out of opponents. Roach says they’re preparing to attack that angle if given to them. 

“It’s worked well for him in the past but I do want Manny to go after that a little bit. I’m a firm believer, if an opponent gives you something you should take it. He kinda gives us a way and I think we’re going to try and take him down a little bit.”

Pacquiao didn’t offer any words to Rappler when asked whether he would set aside his merciful approach to the sport and be more relentless in vying for a knockout, offering just a nod in response. 

Roach isn’t certain Pacquiao will be able to turn the clock back to the days when he was the sport’s most ruthless finisher during the previous decade, but says Pacquiao understands the importance of winning this fight definitively.

“I can’t guarantee that because he’s very into the Bible and he does believe that he doesn’t have to hurt anybody. But he does know that he has to win the fight. 

“Is [Pacquiao] the same? I don’t think so. With age everybody gets a little older. But I think Manny has not slowed down as much as Floyd has slowed down. I feel Manny will control the fight.”  

– Rappler.com