RENOWNED trainer Freddie Roach is deviating from his usual guarded assessment whenever Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao takes on an opponent.
With dethroned World Boxing Council super featherweight Erik “El Terrible” Morales facing his ward at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on March 19 (March 20 Manila time), Roach isn’t shy in predicting Manny will win his bout with the (still) great Mexican warrior.
Roach could just be getting under the skin of Morales and pricking the Mexican’s pride in order for the latter to engage Manny in a brawl.
You see, Mexicans take pride of their machismo.
That is why when Juan Manuel Marquez, another Mexican boxing champ, fought Manny in May last year, he thought he could engage the Filipino boxing sensation in a toe-to-toe slugfest – the best man standing.
When he kissed the canvass thrice in the first round, it dawned upon him that Manny is the best that there is in the business of putting the daylights out of their opponents.
Good thing he escaped with a draw by using his vast arsenal of counterpunching prowess.
Marquez, anyway, is not the slugger type. So he was just being his self when he boxed his way out of danger.
But with Morales, Roach hopes that the much-awaited bout so far would turn into a slugfest.
Or better still, because Morales has something to prove to his nemesis Marco Antonio Barrera, he would go for an early knockout of Pacquiao.
Having tasted the power of Pacquiao with mitts on his hands, Roach knew that Morales could go down once hit by a solid left straight to the chin.
But is Morales willing to mix it up in the early goings?
For sure Morales’ camp have replayed many times over the tape of Manny’s fight with Marquez and hoped to do what Marquez did to the Filipino boxer dubbed by many boxing fans as “The Destroyer”.
But by proclaiming Morales will kiss the canvass when he trade blows with Pacquiao, Roach had just raised the ante.
It is now up for Morales to take the challenge and live up to the billing of their bout–“Bring It On!”
