LAS VEGAS ? It?s always been typical for Freddie Roach to grade Manny Pacquiao after each fight.
This time, according to the American trainer, Pacquiao scored an eight.
?I?d give him an eight,? said Roach more than an hour after the fight as he slowly worked his way back to his hotel room.
Roach had to stop a number of times, giving in to requests from fight fans, mostly Filipinos, for souvenir shots.
?It was a pretty good night and I?m happy,? said Roach, in his red jogging pants, white Pacquiao shirt, and a gym bag on hand.
?It?s work in progress,? he said of Pacquiao?s boxing career.
?But I think his defense was good tonight and I liked that. There were some great exchanges and Manny took some great shots, too,? he admitted.
Roach doesn?t party, and even with those big wins over Erik Morales has really stayed out of the camera.
?I don?t celebrate,? he once said.
This night was no exception at all.
As Pacquiao and his throng of supporters whooped it up at Planet Hollywood, here was Freddie heading back to his room.
He just carried a little smile, and an ?eight? for his favorite student.
