“Don?t you get cocky with me, Ray Leonard.??HOWARD COSELL.
Who put the Jamba Juice in Freddie Roach?s coffee cup? Manny Pacquiao?s normally low-key trainer has gone out on a limb to predict that his charge will take the scorecards out of the judges hands on June 28.
Roach makes no bones about it, saying flatly that David Diaz is going to get KTFO?d against the Pinoy idol in their Las Vegas bout for Diaz?s WBC lightweight title.
Why would Roach do that? I submit to you, it?s not a case of Coach Roach being cocky, but rather a case of Roach looking into a mirror into the past. In other words, when Roach looks at tapes of Diaz, he looks at a southpaw version of himself.
Never forget that, whenever Professor Roach looks at a Pacman foe, he views the opponent first through the prism of a prizefighter. Which he was and he was a more than capable 10-round fighter whose worst fault was a lack of defense. On the other hand, his chin first style made him wildly popular with promoter Bob Arum and in the many bouts he had on national TV.
I dare say, in a private moment or maybe even publicly, Roach would admit that a southpaw slinger like Megammanny would?ve stopped him. Roach?s ring record, which is a bit deceiving, underlines that.
Roach never fought for a world title and he finished up 39-13 with 15 KOs. But, if you eliminate two decision losses to Louie Burke and a four-bout losing skein in which Greg Haugen stopped him, Hector Camacho outpointed him, Darryl Tyson decisioned him and Andy Nance stopped him, Roach would?ve wound up with a 39-7 final record.
Which ain?t chopped liver.
Roach simply could not beat top level fighters such as Haugen and Camacho. They had natural gifts that he did not but the 5-5 Roach never stopped swinging.
Which brings me back to Diaz. I?ve said it before and I?ll postulate it again. David Diaz is also a cut below the Haugens, the Camachos and even the steady Darryl Tyson types of yesteryear.
Coach Roach knows for sure that pupil Pacman would have starched him.
And, frankly, that?s why he confidently predicts what I agree with.
Manny Pacquiao, when all is said and done, will have this entry on his pro record: KO 8, David Diaz.
Roach?s spectacles are not fogged up.
Megamanny?s trainer can see clearly now because his guy will rain punches on David Diaz.
Freddie Roach is not getting cocky. He?s just, to borrow Cosell?s trademark line, telling it like it is.
