HOLLYWOOD, California ? Freddie Roach is confident of a victory by Manny Pacquiao over Erik Morales on March 19 in Las Vegas that the selection of the three judges at ringside is probably the least of his worries.
Shortly after Pacquiao?s workout at the Wild Card Boxing Club on Vine St., Roach told the Bulletin that the scoresheets of Paul Smith, Dave Morreti and Chuck Giampa would all be put to waste because the Filipino punching machine is going to win via the short route.
“I respect all three judges, but their scores won?t even be needed because Manny will win by knockout,” said Roach.
As to the choice of referee, Roach, a former featherweight contender during the 1980s, also heaved praises on Joe Cortez, who was also the third man on the ring when Pacquiao bludgeoned Lehlo Ledwaba in June 2001 and in May 2004 when Pacquiao drew with Juan Manuel Marquez.
“Joe Cortez is okay and I respect him,” said Roach.
Roach?s confidence stems from his belief that Pacquiao is in terrific shape and should put “on a better performance compared when he fought with Marquez last year.”
The quality of sparring partners tapped by Pacquiao?s training team also convinced Roach that the outcome would be favorable.
“I have heard from other people that we have terrible sparring partners and I don?t buy that because we have very good sparring from Jose Sta. Cruz, who is 18-0, and wary Beltran, who is 16-0.”
Justin Jukko and reigning International Boxing Federation super-bantam ruler Israel Vazquez were also tapped in helping Pacquiao rev up for the Morales fight.
