Ace Freeman sat down with Freddie Roach to discuss Manny Pacquiao’s debut in the 135 pound division vs. David Diaz. Also discussed are potential super fights with Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya. Only on FightFan.com!
FF: When Pacquiao faces David Diaz, should we be expecting a fire fight or is it in Manny?s best interest to use his edge in skill and speed?
FR: Manny will use his improved style of boxing and won?t get hit so much. That?s something we?re going to have to do in this fight.
FF: I don?t want to ask you to look beyond the Diaz fight but I?ve heard some big names thrown around for Manny like Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya? Is that crazy talk? Or not necessarily?
FR: No it?s real. I?m the one who wants a Hatton fight. They were talking about a potential Oscar fight but I think Manny and Hatton are about the same size and height. If we could get Hatton at a catch weight of 137 or 138 pounds it would be a competitive fight. That fight would be a big sell because both guys sell pay-per-views and it?s a great match up with both guys having similar styles. I?d love a Hatton fight for Manny and I think it?s one he could win. Hatton has to get by Juan Lazcano first and that?s not an easy fight? and Manny has to get by Daiz.
FF: FightFan.com here on location at the Wildcard gym with Freddie Roach. We appreciate you having us. Tell us about Manny and the move to 135 pounds to challenge David Diaz for the title. How do you feel about the move up in weight? Was Manny having trouble making 130 pounds?
FR: Yea I think he was a little bit. At 135 he?s going to be much stronger. I think he?ll bring his punching power up with him and that his speed will still remain the same. The one thing I?m concerned about goes back to the Marquez (rematch). Manny weighed 130 pounds for the fight, and then entered the ring at 146 pounds. I think he put on too much weight.
FF: Is that just him re-hydrating?
FR: No I think it?s over eating. I think food makes you sluggish and slows you down a little bit. There?s less reaction time and it slows the body down. I like when guys put put on weight between the weigh in and fight night, but there?s a fine line between gaining enough weight and gaining too much. I?m a firm believer you should never put on more than ten pounds. For Manny to gain sixteen pounds in a 24 hour period is a lot of weight.
FF: And that would effect his speed would it not?
FR: Of course. The food intake makes you sluggish. That?s why in the military they always do maneuvers in the early morning on an empty stomach because you?re sharper that way. I?m not saying I want to starve Manny, but I?m going to monitor that a lot more closely for this fight with Diaz.
FF: A question I had about the move to 135 pounds is that you start seeing a lot bigger guys there than you do at 130 because larger guys are sucking down to make that weight. Is there going to be a big difference in the size of the guys Manny is fighting in that regard?
FR: Yea I?d say they?ll be a lot stronger with a better punch, but I think Manny will be able to handle it. He?s always boxed bigger guys in the gym with the likes of (junior welterweight) Victor Ortiz who?s a 140-pounder Manny will be sparring with for this fight. Victor is great work for us and I believe he?s stronger than David Daiz. We?re trying to get Freddie Norwood to come over to work on some slickness and speed? so we?ll have all our bases covered with our sparring and such.
FF: Do you think David Diaz will be a good measuring stick for Pacquiao and how he will fair at 135, because there?s not a lot of secrets with him. He?s a strong guy who comes forward?
FR: He?s a strong guy and a little bit awkward because he?s a southpaw. Manny doesn?t really like fighting southpaws that much, but Diaz is hittable and usually when a guy is hittable Manny does pretty well. On the flip side of that Diaz is a pretty good puncher and he likes to fight. The biggest thing I?m worried about with this fight is there are a lot of people out there telling Manny this will be an easy fight. That?s just not true. Diaz is a former Olympian, has a good amateur background and is a world champion. You don?t win world titles by accident. Diaz knows this is the chance of a lifetime and he has nothing to lose. He?s going to be at his best I?m sure, so Manny will need to be at his best and I?m sure he will be.
FF: And Diaz is also a very durable guy?
FR: Yes he?s durable and has a good chin. The thing is we can out box this guy and be smart about it, and we can exchange with the guy which is giving him a chance. I don?t want to take away Manny?s explosiveness but we?ll be a little more technical in this fight.
FF: From a fan?s point of view, should we be expecting a fire fight or do you think it?s in Manny?s best interest to use his edge in skill and speed?
FR: Yes Manny will use his improved style of boxing and won?t get hit so much. That?s something we?re going to have to do in this fight.
FF: I don?t want to ask you to look too far beyond this title fight but I?ve heard some big names thrown around for Manny like Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya? Is that crazy talk? Or not necessarily?
FR: No it?s real. I?m the one who wants a Hatton fight. They were talking about a potential Oscar fight but I think Manny and Hatton are about the same size and height. If we could get Hatton at a catch weight of 137 or 138 pounds it would be a competitive fight. That fight would be a big sell because both guys sell pay-per-views and it?s a great match up with both guys having similar styles. I?d love a Hatton fight for Manny and I think it?s one he could win. Hatton has to get by Juan Lazcano first and that?s not an easy fight? and Manny has to get by Diaz.
The thing with a De La Hoya fight is that Oscar may want to fight Manny, and Manny wants to fight Oscar. I asked what weight he was thinking and he said 150 pounds. I said it would have to be no higher than 147. I?ve heard they?re having trouble signing a Mayweather rematch (for Oscar) because Mayweather wants 50/50 and Golden Boy doesn?t want to give him that. Pacquiao and Oscar had some contract problems and so forth, I think Oscar?s a little bitter about that and Pacquiao? he doesn?t care (laughs).
FF: You?ve been up close and personal with both Manny and Oscar? what do you think about the size and strength difference between them?
FR: The thing about that fight is it depends on the style and how Manny goes about fighting Oscar. For Manny to beat Oscar he?d need to box and use his speed. Manny would really have to be on top of his game because Oscar is bigger and stronger, but another thing to consider is that Oscar is older now and he?s having trouble pulling the trigger. You saw it in the last fight with Mayweather. I guess we?ll just have to wait and see.
FF: Allright Freddie, as always thanks for taking the time to talk with FightFan.com.
FR: Thank you very much.
