World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum hosted an international media conference call on Thursday. All three are in General Santos City, Philippines, where Pacquiao has been in deep, rigorous training for his November 22 title defense in Macao, China, against undefeated WBO junior welterweight world champion Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs), which is now less than a month away.
Manny Pacquiao: I?m excited to fight again with a tall opponent like Algieri. I know what I?m doing in the fight. We practiced hard in the gym different techniques. I?m confident that I?m going to win the fight in Jesus? name. He?s doing his best in training and I?m doing my best in training so it?s really gonna be a good fight.
Freddie Roach: My first day with Manny we went twelve rounds (with pads) and Manny wasn?t even breathing. We had a great start, maybe the best start we?ve ever had and sparring?s been going really well. We have over 34 rounds of sparring so far. We?ve got some great sparring partners with Victor Postal, #1 contender in the world, Mike Jones, a big 147-pounder (and others). All guys tall, I think some better than our opponent, but we?ll see very soon.
Bob Arum: [On Pacquiao playing pro basketball in the Philippines] Professional basketball, no matter where the country is that you play, is a rugged sport and a player can turn an ankle very, very easily. These NBA players are fantastic physical specimens and yet they get injured all the time, so an injury would have really wreaked havoc with the fight, so I was not very pleased. But Manny has assured Freddie, Freddie has assured me that that?s it. After he does the fight on November 22, if he wants to try out for the New York Knicks, it?s OK with me.
