WITH all the conflicting reports whether newly crowned super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera would like to fight Manny Pacquiao again, famed American trainer Freddie Roach said they will have to focus their attention on the business at hand: Thai Fahsan 3K Battery.
“Right now, we’re thinking of the coming fight. We’re focusing on this one. We don’t want to think past this fight,” Roach said, referring to Pacquiao’s clash with Fahsan on Dec. 11 in Taguig.
Roach said they are not taking the Thai boxer for granted despite experts’ prediction that it is going to be a walk-in-the-park for Pacquiao come fight night.
Although he admitted his boxer holds a tremendous edge in terms of speed and power, Roach said they cannot afford to lose here.
“First things first. We have to stay focus of the coming fight,” he said.
To show that he means business, Roach ordered another sparring session for the Filipino southpaw Wednesday afternoon at the Davao City boxing gym.
Before another capacity crowd, Pacquiao traded heavy blows with Philippine lightweight champ Fernando Montilla and a very promising boxer in Arnel Porras of Tulunan, North Cotabato.
The sight of people trooping to the gym and cars lining up the road could lead one to think that a boxing event is being held inside the gym rather than a training session.
From the 100 people who came the first day Pacquiao trained with Roach around, the number tripled Wednesday as office workers, executives and even students took time out to see their idol.
Roach said he does not want to think about Barrera, who reportedly does not want to fight Pacquiao anymore after beating Erik Morales for the World Boxing super featherweight crown.
