Philippines, 21 May 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PACQUIAO-CLOTTEY:Fight will not last 12 rounds ? Roach


PhilBoxing.com




It?s still 10 days before Filipino World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao puts his 147-pound crown on the blocks but chief trainer Freddie Roach declared that the game plan to beat Ghanaian challenger Joshua Clottey has already been in place.

?Yes, we?re ready. The way Manny is responding to his training, I can tell this early that he?s going to overwhelm him (Clottey), ?Roach boldly predicted during last weekend?s media conference call held at the Wild Card Gym in downtown Los Angeles.

?With Manny?s speed and his combinations, I do believe he will be the first person to stop Clottey before the 12th round,? the four-time ?Trainer of the Year? awardee of the American Writers Association assured.
?I know Clottey is a big strong guy and a great fighter and we respect him as a real tough guy, but we also know his characteristic, we know his mistakes and we know his bad habits, which we can exploit to the hilt,? he said.

The Filipino ring icon and the Puerto Rican hero face each other off for 12 rounds titled ?The Event? March 14 (Manila time) at the newly built million dollar Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas.

After almost four weeks at the gym since arriving in Los Angeles from Manila, Roach said the ?Pacman? has kept on improving day after day and that he wouldn?t stop in trying to get better. Following an 11-round sparring Friday last week against four sparring partners, Roach said he wanted to give the champ a rest day the next day, but Pacquiao refused his offer and instead boxed for 12 more rounds that day.

Roach told members of the international media, some of whom fielded their questions via phone patch from their respective countries, that Team Pacquiao have been watching a lot of tapes on Clottey fights from where the training staff learned about the challengers? weaknesses.

This week, the team?s last at Wild Card before driving to Dallas Monday next week, will be a tapering off period in order to maintain Pacquiao?s peak condition.
Pacquiao himself, who was with Roach during the media conference call along with Top Rank bossman Bob Arum, declared himself in tip-top shape.

?I am, good. Training camp is good and everything is going great,? he quipped. I know Clottey is taller and bigger than me. I know I can?t underestimate him because he?s also a former champion. ?

Asked about Leonard de Jesus, who was once one of Pacquiao?s corner men but who will be at Clottey?s corner, Roach said he couldn?t care less.

?Lenny used to work as cut man for Manny. He knows us pretty well, but we have changed a lot since then. If he thinks he?s going to face the old Manny Pacquiao, that?s not going to be the case,? Roach remarked. ?I respect him though. He?s a good boxing guy.?

?Am I a better trainer?? he asked. ?I don?t know. All I know is we have a better fighter (in Pacquiao). We have a perfect game plan and I don?t care who trains Joshua Clottey for this fight, he can?t beat us.?

?Let?s face it. Clottey is what he is. He fights the same way in every tape I watched, ? he said by way of assessing the challenger. ?Whether he fights southpaw or right-handers, he is predictable. He?s good at he does, but he does the same thing over and over again.?

?He?s going to try to change for this fight, but once he gets in he will revert back to it,? Roach continued. ?We are 100 percent ready to his style. He is resilient. The beginning of the fight is going to be very hard because he is a very good opponent and he likes to fight. We will break him down and I am confident the firth will not go 12 rounds.?



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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Manny Pacquiao Confirms Return to Ring Against Mario Barrios on July 19
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 21 May 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 2 - FIRST ALI-FRAZIER FIGHT, THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 May 2025
  • CLARESSA SHIELDS’ MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Wed, 21 May 2025
  • The Natural: Top Rank Signs Teenage Sensation Julian Montalvo to Promotional Contract
    , Wed, 21 May 2025
  • Paras and Gaballo Set to Battle Thai Contenders in Gensan
    , Wed, 21 May 2025
  • WBC #2 BADILLO TO FACE WBC #8 ZAPATA IN LIGHT FLYWEIGHT FINAL ELIMINATOR ON PROBOX TV, JULY 11
    , Wed, 21 May 2025
  • Who is Mario Barrios?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 20 May 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 19 May 2025: Sam Goodman, Carlos Cuadras, Dave Allen Register Wins
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 20 May 2025
  • PACQUIAO BACK AT WILDCARD GYM: A LEGEND'S RETURN TO GLORY
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 20 May 2025
  • Argentinian Soto tests positive for cannabis after surprising victory over "Magnifico" Nuñez in Panama
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 20 May 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 1 - MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III AFTER 50 YEARS
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 20 May 2025
  • IM Garcia tops Lomibao rapid chessfest; pockets P20,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 20 May 2025
  • Pacquiao Arrives in Los Angeles, Fight Announcement Imminent
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 19 May 2025
  • Oklahoma Thrashes Denver Nuggets in Game 7, 125-93, Completes NBA Final Four
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 19 May 2025
  • Results from Panamà City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 19 May 2025
  • Antonio Vargas Elevated to WBA World Bantamweight Champion
    , Mon, 19 May 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN MANCHESTER ON JULY 5 LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sun, 18 May 2025
  • Jayson Mama Set to Challenge for IBO World Super Flyweight Title in Johannesburg
    , Sat, 17 May 2025
  • Fisher vs Allen 2: Can Johnny Make Necessary Improvements?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 17 May 2025
  • Weights from Panamá City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 17 May 2025
  • CRUZ LANDS IBF ELIMINATOR AGAINST MISHIRO IN NEW YORK
    , Sat, 17 May 2025
  • Fisher and Allen Hit the Scales Ahead of Highly Anticipated Heavyweight Rematch
    , Sat, 17 May 2025
  • Boxing: Sport Entertainment or Entertainment Sport (Part Two)
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 16 May 2025
  • NYC PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: BERLANGA VS. SHEERAZ / SHAKUR STEVENSON VS. WILLIAM ZEPEDA
    , Fri, 16 May 2025
  • HALL OF FAME TRAINER FREDDIE ROACH TO BE HONORED BY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN PUBLIC CEREMONY AT FREDDIE'S GYM!
    , Fri, 16 May 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.