LOS ANGELES ? Freddie Roach had Marco Antonio Barrera for dinner Wednesday in his favorite Thai restaurant here.
As he enjoyed a mouthful with Pinay boxer Ana Julaton and some friends, Roach faced a huge 40-inch monitor, catching a tape of the 2004 showdown between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Of course, watching Barrera?s previous fights had become a staple for the two-time Trainer of the Year in recent days, weeks or months as his ward, Manny Pacquiao, is all set to face the Mexican on Oct. 6 in Vegas.
Pinoy scribes who just flew in from Manila chanced upon the American trainer and his friends at the Nat?s Thai restaurant just outside the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. It?s Pacquiao?s favorite training hangout, too.
Immediately, Roach gladly reported of Pacquiao?s training in LA, starting last Monday when the Filipino sensation flew in after spending more than a month in Cebu City, and logging 111 rounds of sparring.
?He?s doing great,? he said as he tried to catch glimpses of the action between Barrera and Morales on the screen. Barrera won this one via a majority decision, and wrapped up the trilogy, 2-1, in his favor.
?Manny just won?t stop once he?s inside the ring. Today we did 14 rounds with the mitts ? non-stop. I had to hold him back but Manny kept on saying, ?No. Let?s go on,??said Roach in his prominent Clark Kent eyeglasses.
?And I have a prediction for you: One round,? he said, half-serious.
Roach said Pacquiao, who sparred eight rounds Tuesday here, will do a few rounds of sparring before the media Thursday. But before that, the boxer will have to do a scheduled tele-conference with the press.
Roach said the last day of sparring is set on Monday here in LA. Shortly after that, the members of Team Pacquiao will move to Las Vegas where he trains lightly for three more days at the IBA Gym.
Pointing to the screen, Roach said it was one of those fights where he knew that Barrera used too much gauze and tape on his hands before climbing the ring, a practice which he said shouldn?t happen this time.
?I already informed the (Nevada) commission about it because I?m really going to make an issue out of this if they allow him to tape his hands the way he likes it. I think you?re only allowed 23 feet of gauze and tape per hand,? he said.
But obviously, Roach feels, Barrera is using more, noting that the Mexican boxer always seem to have difficulty putting on his gloves because the edge of the wrap is almost ?four inches?away from the knuckles.?
Barrera has already reacted by saying Roach ?should not worry about his hands, but should focus on Pacquiao.?
