When Manny Pacquiao arrives to begin his training at the Wild Card gym sometime next month, a parade of lefties will be on hand as sparmates to prepare him against David Diaz whom he fights on June 28.
“Actually, I have some names right now but I only remember one,” Roach said yesterday from Las Vegas where he will be at Bernard Hopkins? corner when he clashes with British bad boy Joe Calzaghe on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).
Roach said Freddie Norwood, the former World Boxing Association featherweight champion who holds a win over Juan Manuel Marquez, is one of those being eyed to work as Pacquiao?s sparmate.
Roach said Norwood, 38, has been training at the Wild Card Boxing Club and his southpaw style is perfect for Pacquiao?s preparation for Diaz, also a left-hander and almost the same height as Norwood at 5-6 ?.
Norwood, who has a 42-2-1 win-loss-draw card with 23 knockouts, hasn?t fought since last year but is aching to get in the ring once again.
Aside from Norwood, welterweight Gary McMillan of Scotland, is also being considered to be Pacquiao?s sparmate.
McMillan, also a lefty, is a many-time amateur standout and is now starting to make a name in the professional ranks.
Meanwhile, tickets will go on sale starting Saturday (Sunday in Manila). From a low of $ 100, fight fans can also get expensive ones pegged at $ 600, $ 400, $ 300 and $ 200.
“At Mandalay Bay, every seat is a good seat,” said Top Rank chief Bob Arum, noting that the seating arrangement at the 12,000-capacity venue guarantees a full view of the action in the ring regardless of the position.
Arum plans to generate pay-per-view sales by leasing a private plane to bring Pacquiao to San Diego and San Francisco and even Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) during non-sparring days as in Pacquiao?s runup for last March 15?s rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico.
Dubbed “Lethal Combination,” the Pacquiao-Diaz 12-round showdown will put Diaz?s World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown on the line, the second time the Chicago native will defend it after winning it by beating Jose Armando Santa Cruz and staving off the challenge of Erik Morales last year.
