Robert Morales
415 articles · L.A. Daily News
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Pacquiao puts ‘ordinary’ skills to test in Barrera rematch
In Manny Pacquiao, we have a fighter who has not yet reached his peak. So says his trainer, classy Freddie Roach. In Marco Antonio Barrera, we have a fighter who is a…
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Powerful Pacquiao complete package
For decades the debate among men has been - Ginger or Mary Ann? That was based, of course, on which Gilligan's Island beauty one would most like to date. Boxing can also…
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Inside Pacquiao-Barrera II
In Manny Pacquiao, we have a fighter who has not yet reached his peak. So says his trainer, the classy Freddie Roach. In Marco Antonio Barrera, we have a fighter who is…
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Pacquiao ready for Vegas rumble
HOLLYWOOD - Freddie Roach had seen enough. "I had a little problem the first 10 days with crowd control. I got mad one day and I lost it and I told them…
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Breaking down the big fights
So there we were, sitting at a table at a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles last week, talking shop. It was Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions; Eric Gomez, Golden Boy…
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Distractions, yes, but expect Pacquiao to be ready for Barrera
Amid all the hoopla created by the sudden departure of Manny Pacquiao from Los Angeles back to his native Philippines, his trainer, Freddie Roach, said it's much ado about nothing. Pacquiao was…
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Inside Camp Pacquiao
Amid all the hoopla created by the sudden departure of Manny Pacquiao from Los Angeles back to his native Philippines, none other than his trainer, Freddie Roach, said it is much to…
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Arum and Top Rank preparing for big fights
Promoter Bob Arum was in Los Angeles on Tuesday. But since yours truly is suffering from a nasty case of the flu, it was best that a conversation with him took place…
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No backing down from Parkinson’s<br>Roach has thrived as a trainer despite hardships
Freddie Roach moved about the ring at his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. Holding punch mitts, he barked out commands to Bernard Hopkins. "Give me two jabs," Roach instructed Hopkins, who delivered…
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Arum not involved, not upset
No one would blame Bob Arum if he were bugged about not being part of Saturday's super welterweight title fight between champion Oscar De La Hoya and challenger Floyd Mayweather Jr. at…
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This was 2006: The best, and the not-so-good
Now that everything important has taken place, thought it would be a good time to dole out some awards -- good and bad -- for 2006. Some of my awards are typical,…
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Pacquiao learns to multi-task
Any athlete needs to be focused on the task at hand, but a fighter perhaps more so than any other because of the obvious danger and because one punch can turn around…
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Pac-man Fever hits Filipino politics
Manny Pacquiao is running for Congress in his native Philippines for two reasons - to make a better life for the people of the first district of South Cotabato, and to show…
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Full plate can wait for Pacquiao as fight nears
Any athlete needs to be focused on the task at hand, but a fighter perhaps more so than any other because of the obvious danger and because one punch can turn around…
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Expect the slugger to reappear
For the first 10-plus years of his sparkling career, there was never any doubt as to how Marco Antonio Barrera was going to approach a fight - with the intent of knocking…
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Barrera is going out in a blaze of glory
IT'S no surprise that the last two fights of Marco Antonio Barrera's career could be two of his toughest. Barrera will put his World Boxing Council super featherweight belt on the line…
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A long wait for Marquez-Barrera fight
A fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera always seemed natural. They are both from Mexico City, they're the same age and they have been in, or near, the same…
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Floyd Sr. comments on Oscar
Floyd Mayweather Sr. didn't pull any punches Tuesday night when assessing Oscar De La Hoya's choice to use Freddie Roach as his trainer for his May 5 mega fight against Floyd Mayweather…
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De La Hoya in strange position
During the early years of his professional career, it was not uncommon to see Oscar De La Hoya walk into the Forum with a beautiful woman on his arm to take in…
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Barrera-Marquez a Done Deal
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, told this reporter on Friday that he remained hopeful that a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera could still happen, in spite of…