Boxingtalk hooked up with Freddie Roach, and got the update on his stable. Roach also answers the questions concerning rumors that Pacquiao will not train in Los Angeles in May, rather train the entire camp in The Philippines until his fight in July against Larios. Boxingtalk welcomes Freddie Roach!
BT – Freddie first of all, can you clear up the rumor about Pacquiao not coming to Los Angeles to train for the first half of his training.
FR – Well I am going to The Philippines tomorrow, and we will have the press conference with Larios in The PI. Manny and I will come back to the U.S. on sunday for the press conference in Vegas. We will be training at The Wild Card for a couple of weeks, and for the month of June we will be in The Philippines.
BT – Freddie that still leaves a few weeks in June ?
FR – I will talk to Manny myself. There are people that are pressuring Manny to stay over there, but he has to come here for the press conference. Then we will do Sports Center on ESPN on the 3rd. Everything will be straightened out when I sit down with him, and talk some sense into him.
BT – Freddie are you concerned that Manny has too many people up in his ears?
FR – The thing is there are too many distractions where he is right now, but once we get to The Philippines we are going up into the mountains. When we get up there we are just not going to let anyone in, it’s that simple. It’s going to be a closed camp, and it will be a closed camp at The Wild Card as well, except for you Brad ok? If you come to The Philippines you are welcome.
BT – Freddie, I just might take you up on that.
BT – Freddie are you concerned that Manny is getting a little complacent with Larios?
FR – This guy is a live opponent, and we know that. We have people telling us that we took too tough a guy, we are not taking him lightly. Larios is tall, and he throws a lot of punches, he brings some things to the table. We got bigger things beyond this fight, and we are not going to blow this, I guarantee it.
BT – Freddie I keep hearing different things, has Morales definitely accepted to fight at 130lbs?
FR – According to Bob Arum we will fight Morales in late October, early November at 130lbs, so he has accepted. One thing we have to worry about is Morales coming in overweight like Castillo tried to do, if that happens there will be large fines, believe me.
BT – Freddie Bobby Pacquiao squares off against Kevin Kelly, how do you see Bobby matching up with Kelly?
FR – Good match up, and Bobby can win. Bobby has to be in great shape to win the fight though. Kelly is a live opponent, former world champ, and the winner will go on to bigger and better things, and the loser may have to move on to a different career. Bobby will be at the Wild Card Gym tomorrow, I have been guaranteed me that.
BT – “Boom Boom” Bautista….Freddie this kid can bang can’t he?
FR – “Boom Boom” worked 4 rounds today, he will be on the under-card of Barrera vs Juarez, and as soon as I find out who his opponent will be, we’ll get him ready. This kid is a killer in the ring, and he wants to hurt you with every punch. This kid is only 18 yrs old, so we will not rush him. I think he’s about a year away from a title shot.
BT – Karmizin and Cory Spinks is getting closer, what are your thoughts on that fight Freddie?
FR – Karmizin is too strong for Cory, Roman just wants to be busy. Roman has been here for the last 3 months just working, and staying in shape. I asked Roman if the fight is signed yet, and he told me it’s getting close.
BT – Manfredo Jr made it clear that he’s not so happy with The Contender, and that he wants to be busier. As his trainer, what do you have to do to keep Peter focused on his career.
FR – Yea, he just wants to be busy, he wants to be active. It’s better for fighters to be active because they are at their best when they are active. Peter was offered a big fight with Calzaghe, but they didn’t want to pay him any money so that fight isn’t going to happen. Peter will be here shortly and we’ll get some things together. I even hear that they offered him Jeff Lacy. We will take Lacy if the pay is where it needs to be.
BT – Freddie, James Toney said he would knock Shannon Briggs dreads off of his head (laughing)
FR – (Laughing) I love James Toney.
BT – Thanks for updating Boxingtalk on your stable Freddie.
