The following are comments Freddie Roach shared with FightFan.com prior to and in the build up to Manny Pacquiao’s Dec. 6 victory over Oscar De La Hoya.
Ace Freeman: (May 16, 2008) Freddie in the past you?ve made a few comments that one day Manny Pacquiao could conceivably move up as high as welterweight to face Oscar De La Hoya. Is that crazy talk or could there be something to that?
Freddie Roach: No it?s real. I was talking about a potential Oscar fight and I think it depends on the style and how Manny goes about fighting him. For Manny to beat Oscar he?d need to box and use his speed. Manny would really have to be on top of his game because Oscar is bigger and stronger, but another thing to consider is that Oscar is older now and he?s having trouble pulling the trigger.
November, 2008
?I trained Oscar for a fight and I think that to make it down to 147 he?s going to struggle. My guy weighed 147 pounds going in to the David Diaz fight the day of the bout and he was having trouble making 135. So I think his best weight is probably around 140 right now . When the opportunity came up to fight Oscar at 147 I thought about it and I believe my guy can win the fight and that?s why we?re here.?
?Size doesn?t win fights. Speed, power, boxing ability, a game plan, activity? my guy has fought four times in the last year or so and Oscar hasn?t fought four times in four years.?
?Manny hits much harder. There?s no doubt about it. We have the advantage when it comes to the punch and there?s no doubt about that in my mind. We?ve also got the edge in activity and speed and Oscar, well he can?t pull the trigger anymore.?
?We?re going to step it up from round one and make this guy fight. Oscar tires in slow paced fights, and we are going to push him and push him and push him.?
?Can Nacho Bernstein make Oscar turn in to Juan Manuel Marquez? I don?t think so. I think Oscar is what he is at this stage of his career.?
December, 2008
?Pacquiao will stop Oscar within nine rounds?
?Next week, the shoe is gong to be on the other foot and Oscar is going to find out first-hand how Julio Cesar Chavez felt the night he lost to Oscar the first time (June 7, 1996).?
