Freddie Roach shares his thoughts on James Toney’s performance against Hasim Rahman, and also brings us up to speed on Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Oscar Larios in Manila, Philippines on July 2. Roach also brings up Jeff Lacy’s name as someone he would like to see Peter Manfredo Jr take on sometime this year.
BT – Freddie what are your thoughts on James Toney’s performance against Hasim Rahman?
FR – You know if you count scores, and blows in the fight, I think James won the fight. I think Rahman was hitting James in the back of the head, andin the back a lot. I thought if James was 15 pounds lighter he would have knocked him out.
BT – So you definitely feel that the weight was a clear issue for James, and his performance?
FR – I think the weight issue had something to do with it, yes. I thought the cigar smoking was a little bit too much also, because it was the first time I saw James get so tired in a fight. Usually towards the end of the fight when I ask James to step it up like I usually do, it just wasn’t there this time.
BT – Freddie how much do you attribute age as a factor here as well?
FR – Yes, of course that’s always a factor. James has had over 70 fights , so yea age could be kicking in here. Hopefully we’ll get the rematch, but we’ll see.
BT – Hasim Rahman will probably fight the mandatory, and that’s not James Toney.
FR – Well I know there are attempts to get a mandated rematch through the WBC, but im not sure how that’s going right now. Maybe we can get one of the other champions like Brewster to step up.
BT – Freddie let’s move on to Manny Pacquiao. How is Manny Pacquiao doing?
FR – Me and Shelly just got back from The Philippines. We went over there to straighten out some things for the fight, Manny will fight on July 2nd in Manila against Oscar Larios. Manny will be here in Los Angeles for the month of May, and then in June we will train in the mountains, in The Philippines.
BT – Freddie talk a little bit about Oscar Larios, there are a lot of fans in The Philippines that are calling this guy a bum?
FR – He’s a tough guy, it’s funny the papers in The Philippines are saying he’s a bum, and a stiff but I am trying to tell these people that Oscar Larios is a live opponent, and ex world champion. Oscar got beat by Vasquez but the fight was stopped by a cut, cuts do happen in fights, he wasn’t knocked out. HBO accepted Larios as the opponent, and he’s definitely not an easy opponent by any means.
BT – Freddie talk about the HBO and ABS television contracts for this fight.
FR – ABS will cover the local, and HBO will pick up the Pay Per View feed.
BT – Talk about Peter Manfredo Jr, what’s the latest with him?
FR – Well we are looking for something for Peter to keep him busy. With his contract with The Contender, he just doesn’t have a lot of fights. I would like to see Peter get in there right away, because he’s getting better all of the time. I would like to get someone like Jeff Lacy, Jeff has to get back to redeem himself, and I think that would be a good fight for Peter.
BT – Do you think a fight between Jeff Lacy and Peter Manfredo Jr can happen by the end of 2006?
FR – Yes definitely, I think it’s can happen. I think the styles are great, and I think my guy can outbox Jeff Lacy. I think Peter is ready to step up against a guy like Lacy.
BT – Freddie let’s wrap this up with a few questions on Barrera, Rocky Juarez, and a possible rematch between Pacquiao and Barrera.
FR – It’s a good fight for Barrera against Juarez. I think Barrera is too big, and too strong for Juarez at this point. We are looking forward to a rematch against Barrera, and if Morales doesn’t want to fight us at 130lbs, we are going to fight Barrera.
BT – Freddie what is your gut feeling on wether or not Morales will accept the rematch with Pacquiao at 130lbs ?
FR – They say they want to fight us, but they are arguing over the weight. They are saying 131lbs, Manny is fighting at 130lbs, and if they want a rematch with Manny Pacquiao that’s the way it’s going to be, at 130lbs, period. Manny will not fight at 131, or even 130.5 The weight is 130, and if Morales doesn’t want to fight at 130lbs, we will fight Barrera next.
BT – So if Morales refuses to fight at 130lb, and the time limit expires for him to accept 130 you guys are going right after Barrera?
FR – Yes, Barrera is making a lot of noise right now. Barrera is the best opponent out there. We know we have to get ready for Larios, and we are not taking him lightly, so were focusing on Larios right now.
BT – Freddie there are a lot of fans in The Philippines that don’t have much money, and they are upset that the tickets prices are too high, what are your thoughts on that?
FR – Well they just had the WWE over there, and the place was sold out. ABS researched this, and they gauged the prices off of that. There are cheap tickets, to the thousand dollar tickets. There are people with money, and without money all over the world. ABS researched it, and they have done entertainment stuff before, and they say they know what they are doing, so it’s out of our hands. ABS says they are in control, and they say that this fight will sell out within a week
