IF FREDDIE Roach can only have his way, he would like to see Manny Pacquiao on the doorsteps of the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in the first week of March as the duo prepares for somebody who the celebrated cornerman said cannot be taken for granted.
“You can’t afford to take anyone lightly,” Roach told the Bulletin when asked about the prospects of Pacquiao clashing with the granite-chinned Injin Chi of Korea on April 28 at Wynn Casino and Resort in Macau.
Roach said he will finalize the details of Pacquiao’s training this week since the Filipino southpaw is said to be arriving in Los Angeles to watch a Top Rank card in Anaheim.
Roach said he would like to see the 28-year-old Pacquiao train for eight weeks for the Chi tiff and was even assured by his main boxer that before heading to the Wild Card, Pacquiao would have already worfked out for two weeks.
Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez said Erik Morales is also gracing the slugfest that will feature Jorge Arce, the awesome-hitting Mexican flyweight.
Pacquiao’s presence in the US could also pave the way for the formal announcement of the April 28 Macau event by Bob Arum, who forged a tieup with Pacquiao’s MP Promotioms during his five-day visit to the country during the Christmas season.
“The visit will be a week at the most,” said Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin Gacal yesterday from General Santos City.
