Philippines, 06 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


MANNY IS GETTING MORE AGGRESSIVE SAYS ROACH


PhilBoxing.com



Pacquiao does the mitts with Roach Monday in LA.

Manny Pacquiao trained assiduously for the July 20 WBA unification match with Keith Thurman under comebacking full-time trainer Freddie Roach at his world famous Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. Roach believed that while Pacquiao's being a religious devotee had minimized his killer instinct, the eight division champion has developed his aggression.

* * *

"Manny's work ethic is great," Roach said. "He works hard, and is incredibly dedicated. But he doesn't have the killer instinct that he used to have. I think religion took that away from us. For a while he would tell me that he just needs to beat his opponents and not knock them out. But he doesn't say that any more. He's getting more aggressive."

* * *

Roach saw that his favorite fighter has turned out to be more aggressive in his last fight. "He was more aggressive in his last fight than I've seen him in years. I hope that continues into this fight. Because when Manny's aggressive he's a much better fighter," added the Hall of Fame trainer.

* * *

?Keith Thurman reminds me of the Cotto fight,? Pacquiao was quoted by Boxing Scene, referring to Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto. He is the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four weight classes. Pacquiao battered and stopped Cotto in the 12th round in November 2019.

* * *

As quoted by AFP, Pacquiao said Thurman?s trash talking remarks had fired up his training as the American promised to "crucify" him and send him to retirement. Pacquiao answered: "My response to him is we'll see. He is giving me more motivation and determination to work hard and prove that it's not true. I'm happy that he's saying that ... It gives me inspiration to focus and do the best that I can in the ring."

* * *

Thurman (29-0, 22KOs) has periods of inactivity in his reign as WBA" super" welterweight champion due to injuries, having fought just once each in 2016 winning by unanimous decision over Shawn Porter and in 2017, winning over Danny Garcia by split decision. He had no fight in 2018 but returned atop the ring last January of this year winning a 12-round majority decision over Josesito Lopez.

* * *

Thurman's coming match with Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39KOs) will be the undefeated fighter's first time in four years where he fought an interval of six months or less. Pacquiao also fought one week before Thurman?s victory over Lopez last January, where he crushed the challenger former four-division titlist Adrien Broner. Thurman will debut as a PPV headliner, while Pacquiao has done it several times in a storied boxing career.

* * *

Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece is the fifth non-American player to win MVP honors in the NBA. The others were Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria, Tim Duncan of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Steve Nash of Canada, and Dirk Nowitzki of Germany.

* * *

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA MVP award a record six times. He also became the only player to win the MVP despite his team failing to enter the playoffs in the 1975?76 season. Bill Russell and Michael Jordan won the MVP five times, while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James each won the award four times. Russell and James won the award four times in five seasons.

* * *

Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson each won the award three times. Bob Pettit, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and Stephen Curry have each won the award twice. Only two rookies became MVP, Chamberlain in the 1959?60 season and Wes Unseld in the 1968?69 season.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect  Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS 
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • “Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Moncal, Mag-aso rule Legacy Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lavant Brownlee Earns Gold, Lorenzo Patricio Earns Silver at Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Influencer Brooklyn Barwick Disputes hometown decision for NBA Americas Featherweight title
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER WINKY WRIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.