Philippines, 29 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


ROACH: I HAVE THE GREATEST FIGHTER IN PACQUIAO


PhilBoxing.com




“He’s going to be a seven-time world champion.”

Thus was the words uttered by Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in answer to questions by sportswriters during an international press conference held Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) in regards to Manny Pacquiao’s coming fight against Puerto Rican welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.

“He (Pacquiao) is still learning and very hungry to improve. “I think I have the greatest fighter in the world today and I think we’ll find (that) out again with Miguel Coto,” he told his international audience.

Despite reports to the contrary, especially coming from the foreign media, Roach, again, defended the choice the Philippines (Baguio City) to set up Pacquiao’s training camp in the first month of his preparations.

“That was the best first four weeks we’ve ever had,” the three-time ‘Trainer of the Year’ awardee asserted.

Asked what strategy he will use against Cotto in the fight set November 14 in Las Vegas, Roach said there’s nothing new, except to add that he had studied all of the tapes on Coto’s fights.

“He's never fought a guy like Manny Pacquiao, with his speed. I think that's where he's going to have trouble is with the speed,” he emphasized.

Echoing what he said in previous interviews with Filipino sportswriters during last week’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session while still in Manila, Roach said he wants Pacquiao to start as quickly as possible and avoid staying at the ropes.

The plan, he said, to keep the fight in the middle of the ring where his ward can use his speed and movement to confuse Cotto who has the reputation to be a plodder. To stay off the ropes would be to our advantage, I feel.”

Saying he had observed Coto’s style of fighting, Roach said, that for a change, “we will force him to counter punch and not come at us,” a plan, he explained will catch Cotto by surprise since he has been characteristically a stalker who presses the action, comes forward, and looks to land damaging shots in an effort to take his opponent out.

Roach reiterated his respect on Cotto’s left hook, which he thinks is the punch they will be watching and will try to concentrate in the next three weeks of training.

“Miguel has a pretty good left hook,” said Roach. “But that doesn't win fights, boxing ability wins fights.”

Roach believes Pacquiao is the quicker, faster fighter who possesses the more refined boxing skills which will the world junior-welterweight kingpin to victory, possibly by knockout.

“We’re working the mitts with Manny and at this weight he is punching so much harder than he ever has,” said Roach who had a touch of weariness in his voice. “He’s punching fast and hard and I just think Miguel Cotto’s defense isn’t good enough - and people that Manny hits, he knocks out.”

Welterweight contender Urbano Antillon and former two-time world lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo had been relieved in favor of Rashad Holloway and Ray Beltran and along with middleweight prospect Shawn Porter, Roach said Pacquiao is getting well in sparring.

“He was getting a little too used to the sparring partners we had,” Roach said. “We got some fresh guys in there to liven it up a little bit and keep Manny more focused.”


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Growth of Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Toshihiko Era Retains WBF Asia Strap in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Rising Cuban Prospects Ronny Alvarez and Pedro Veitia
    , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Vayson vies for WBA/WBO titles
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Mexican "The Rock" Zamora, three-time female world champion with 20 world championship fights, retires
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • “I’M ONLY GETTING BETTER”: CONFIDENT PAT McCORMACK PLOTS HUGE HOMECOMING WIN OVER MIGUEL PARRA TO SPARK WORLD TITLE CHARGE
    , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Heart of a Lion: 'Lucky Boy' Reymark Alicaba Earns Praise Despite Loss by Points in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Looks to be the First Fighter to Stop Dylan Carlson
    , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Shawn Darling Inducted into New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame
    , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Arca wins 13th Mindanao Open chessfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Carzano rules FIDE-Rated Open Rapid Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Pythons-Primo wins 5 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes in Kadayawan judo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Crawford to Be Stripped of WBA Title Once He Climb the Ring to Fight Canelo
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 27 Aug 2025
  • Sebastian Juarez Remains Undefeated with Captivating 4th Round TKO Over Louis Hernandez
    , Wed, 27 Aug 2025
  • Jajaira Gonzalez Prepared to Meet the Moment at 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Wed, 27 Aug 2025
  • 2 Division & Former Unified World Champion Juan Francisco Estrada Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 27 Aug 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 AUGUST 2025
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 26 Aug 2025
  • Magpily rules PH National Women's Elimination - Luzon Leg
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 26 Aug 2025
  • Carlos De Leon Shines with 2nd Round TKO, Remains Undefeated on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14
    , Tue, 26 Aug 2025
  • GM Daniel Quizon Wins 4th Edition Eduardo B. Basilonia Touchmove Open Invitational Rapid Chess Tournament; pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 26 Aug 2025
  • Good Luck, Lucky Boy Reymark Alicaba!
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 25 Aug 2025
  • Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Released
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 25 Aug 2025
  • Mapua EE wins Bowling B Championship, IM Datu leads Mapua Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 25 Aug 2025
  • ALOYSIUS YAPP CLAIMS LONG-AWAITED US OPEN CROWN
    , Sun, 24 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.