IF he could have his way, American trainer Freddie Roach would like Manny Pacquiao to train for least two weeks in Australia before staking his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Aussie challenger Jeff Horn on July 2 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
?Two weeks would be ideal so Manny can shake off the jet lag,? Roach said yesterday in a chance interview at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City where he will stay for a week while working with his prized ward.
?I understand that it is cold in Australia now so we can adjust to those conditions before facing Horn,? added Roach, who arrived last Sunday.
He resumed his training with Pacquiao at noon at the nearby Elorde Boxing Gym near the Mall of Asia. The workout was scheduled at noon because the fighting senator had to return later in the afternoon to the Senate for its afternoon session.
Justine Fortune, Pacman?s cutman and strength and physical conditioning coach who arrived together with Roach, said he preferred that the Filipino boxer have at least four weeks of training in Australia ?to be in better condition to face the Australian.?
The American trainer said he still has no goals in mind for Pacquiao after witnessing him do 12 rounds with the mitts last Monday.
?We will know better what we?re gonna do as we see more of him (Pacquiao) during our workouts this week,? said Roach, adding that he had not brought any boxer with him to spar with the Pinoy boxer.
Roach also said that Pacquiao?s Canadian business adviser, Mike Koncz, had plans for Team Pacquiao to be in Australia at least nine days before the fight, although he would prefer that they would be in the land Down Under longer.
Once the Senate goes on recess at the end of the month, Roach said Team Pacquiao would leave for the boxer?s hometown of General Santos City where his training is expected to pick up a notch.
Pacquiao will be back in harness after more than a seven-month layoff since regaining the WBO welterweight title by beating American Jessie Vargas via unanimous decision at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas last November.
With a record of 59 wins, 38 by knockout, against six losses and two draws, the WBO welterweight king is expected to pocket around $10 million (roughly P500 million) in staking his belt against the unheralded Horn, who is unbeaten in 17 fights, with 16 wins (six KOS) against a single draw.
The championship match is co-produced by Top Rank boss Bob Arum and Australian promotions outfight Duco Events and is touted as the biggest professional boxing clash since former world featherweight champion and hometown favorite Jeff Fenech fought Azumah Nelson in Melbourne in 2008.
