Assessing the performance of Manny Pacquiao in Saturday night’s split decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao didn’t put on his best performance:
Asked whether Pacquiao used his right hand enough, Roach said, “He didn’t use it like we thought he would but I think Marquez had a lot to do with that …. Manny was really not moving in the direction I wanted him to. We didn’t fight a perfect fight but a very game fight. Manny can do a lot better.”
I agree with Roach: Pacquiao didn’t fight his best fight. That’s a tribute to Marquez, but it’s also a tribute to Pacquiao that he still managed to win.
Roach made clear that he wants Pacquiao’s next fight to be at 135 pounds against David Diaz, and that if Marquez wants a rematch, he should have to do it at a heavier weight and after the Diaz fight. I don’t have a problem with that, but I do think Marquez should get a rematch against Pacquiao eventually because on my scorecard, Marquez won Saturday night’s fight.
