With about a week left before Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton of the United Kingdom square off, it looks like the trainers of the two fighters are the ones gearing up for the fight based on their recent trade of insults.
Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. traded barbs during a teleconference for the Pacquiao-Hatton fight.
Based on an article posted in The Ring magazine online, Mayweather, Hatton?s trainer, spent much of the conference call showing disrespect to Roach, the trainer of Pacquiao.
?He?s had a lot of big fighters but he?s not done nothing with them. He has one man, Pacquiao. Who else? What fighter has he ever made? I made my son [Floyd Mayweather Jr.]. Who has he made? He ain?t never made anybody,? Mayweather was quoted as saying.
?He?s just what I said, Freddie the Joke Roach Coach.?
Roach shot back at Mayweather by inviting him to the occassion where he will receive another Trainer of the Year award.
?Floyd, when I get presented the Trainer of the Year award, I want you to present it because that?s as close as you?ll get to it,? he said.
Roach will reportedly receive his third Trainer of the Year from the Boxing Writers Association of America in June. Mayweather has never won that award.
Not content with belittling Roach as a trainer, Mayweather took potshots at his rival as a fighter.
?I was most definitely a better fighter than Freddie Roach. I got a poster at the gym where Freddie fought on my undercard,? May?weather said.
But Roach shot back: ?You?re brother [Roger Mayweather] was a good fighter. You lost to Marlon Starling, my fighter [later on], twice.?
Roach and Mayweather were promising contenders during their prime, but neither made it to a world title fight.
Roach confident on Pacquiao
Roach continues to believe that his prized ward will be the stronger fighter on May 2, even as Hatton fought most of his bouts at junior welterweight.
Pacquiao started his career at 106 pounds and fought at above 129 pounds in his last three fights.
Roach said Pacquiao had a hard time meeting the 135-pound lightweight limit in his fight against David Diaz.
The multi-awarded trainer said 140 pounds is the appropriate weight for Pacquiao.
?He?s getting used to the weight. He?s knocked out four of seven sparring partners in training camp. He looks good at the weight, really strong,? Roach said.
Hatton?s camp has been saying their fighter will come into the fight at above 150 pounds on fight night, which will give the Briton a size advantage over Pacquiao. Roach believes otherwise.
?Ricky will be a little heavier by fight time but being heavier doesn?t mean stronger. I have the stronger fighter going into the fight.?
