| |
|
“FIRST ROUND KNOCKOUT” - ROACH
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing.com Fri, 23 Oct 2009

MANDALUYONG CITY -- “If Cotto doesn't run, we'll knock him out in the first round.”
This was Freddie Roach's bold declaration minutes before Manny Pacquiao started his training session Wednesday afternoon at Gerry Penalosa's Gym in Mandaluyong City.
Pacquiao is winding down his training here in the Philippines and will leave for the U.S this weekend.
I asked Roach if he had any regrets coming to the Philippines to train Pacquiao after everything that happened.
“No regrets. We continued to train despite the typhoons. The aftermath was tragic of course, all those people being flooded. But we continued to train despite the weather and we don't melt when hit with water.” Roach exuded cool confidence as he spoke.
Was this the first time Manny used the swimming pool during training?
“We've been trying to make him swim for eight years This is the first time he tried it.”
Did Pacquiao like it?
“No, He swallowed a lot of water and didn't like it.” Roach replied.
There were local and American T.V crews waiting for Pacquiao. After going through his usual warm-ups and stretching, Pacquiao went through his afternoon sparring sparring session which was closed to the media. He sparred for ten rounds against Danny Escobar, Shawn Porter and Jose Luis Castillo. Pacquiao once again showed his amazing stamina as he hit speed bag after his sparring session.
In 23 days, Pacquiao will face WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico for a historic seventh world crown.
Top photo: Pacquiao (L) with conditioning coach Alex Ariza during Wednesday afternoon's training session at the Penalosa Gym in Mandaluyong City. Photo by Dong Secuya.

Roach (R) with the author at the Penalosa Gym Wednesday afternoon.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Dagestan rivalry set to ignite Moscow: Khalidov and Yallyev clash on stacked IBA PRO 19 card , Wed, 03 Jun 2026Deep Waters rules inaugural WR Bughouse Championship By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 02 Jun 2026HE TURKI ALALSHIKH: 'AJ vs PRENGA IN JEDDAH REINFORCES SAUDI ARABIA'S POSITION AS DESTINATION FOR WORLD'S LEADING EVENTS' , Tue, 02 Jun 2026ANTHONY JOSHUA VS KRISTIAN PRENGA TO TAKE PLACE IN JEDDAH ON JULY 25 – LIVE ON DAZN – AS HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF IN LONDON , Tue, 02 Jun 2026Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Gets a kick out of British sports fans , Tue, 02 Jun 2026GUSTAVO TRUJILLO CONTINUES HEAVYWEIGHT ASCENT WITH DEVASTATING FIRST-ROUND TKO , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Boxing Insider Promotions Brings Regional Card to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, June 13 , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Chess, in whatever form, is a great equalizer By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026UNBEATEN CRIZTIAN PITT LAURENTE RETURNS TO FACE JING AGUAN IN A LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT HEADLINING SANMAN 101 , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Lebosada, Sia rule DSA Open golf By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Davao Chess Eagles in FIDE World Team Rapid & Blitz in Hong Kong By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Pido retains crown, Pulleda wins By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Juarez defeats Valle by split decision to retain WBC belt in El Paso,Texas By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026Jose Sulaiman's 95th birthday is being celebrated with events around the world By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan is now one of the IBF board of directors , Sun, 31 May 2026Cavite Inter-Town Chess Tournament gets underway By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 May 2026Lieutenant Delfin Boholst: Soldier, Boxing Coach, Mentor By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 May 2026O’Shaquie Foster vs Raymond Ford: Bad Blood Equals Good Fight By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 30 May 2026WBC Issues Rules Clarification for Designating David Benavidez Mandatory Challenger to Noel Mikaelian External Inbox Andre Courtemanche -- Big Media Buzz , Sat, 30 May 2026FOSTER VS. FORD – WEIGHTS AND THE FINAL WORD AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION , Sat, 30 May 2026AWE to Air Live the WBC World Title Rematch of Kevin Lerena v. Ryad Merhy this Saturday , Sat, 30 May 2026Juego Todo exists in two powerful dimensions By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026‘The Homecoming’ Postponed in Vancouver , Sat, 30 May 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo to Defend Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Titles Against the Philippines’ Joey Canoy , Sat, 30 May 2026Canoy now trains at MP Davao for Collazo's fight By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|