ERIK Morales is “old” and, unlike vintage wine, he has turned stale with the years.
This is how Freddie Roach, the masterful trainer who molded Manny Pacquiao into a feared world boxing celebrity, views the 28-year-old Mexican legend.
Pacquiao and Morales clash at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 19 in a much-awaited pay-per-view encounter hyped as “Bring It On.”
“We think that’s the key in the fight…to go after this guy’s body early and make this old man fight every minute of every round,” Roach bared.
Roach, the 2003 Trainer of the Year, also noted that Morales’ wear-and-tear will definitely be a factor as the Mexican had been in very punishing wars like the famous trilogy with Marco Antonio Barrera and the hard-earned wins over Injin Chi and Paulie Ayala.
Roach’s harshest statement for the March 19 fight came a day after Morales downgraded Pacquiao as a one-dimensional fighter.
The former World Boxing Council champion in three separate divisions also emphasized he’s not worried by the Pacquiao’s highly touted left hand in an interview with a Mexican news service Thursday.
“In my past fights I already faced left-handed boxers and I beat them all by knockout, with the exception of Enrique Angeles who I beat in 12 rounds… My better artillery is my right hand and that’s what I will use against left-handed people,” Morales said.
He added: “Pacquiao is dangerous because of his speed, but my superior strength will be the determining factor.”
Morales, who bragged he has never lost to a left-hander, said Pacquiao cannot adapt to a fight situation.
Roach however claimed Morales would be in for a surprise as Pacquiao has been peaking perfectly and is expected to wield a new weapon in the monumental showdown.
“He’s right where we want him to be. He’s getting some good sparring in with some good guys like, Ray Beltran, Orlando Salido, Vaquez…so he’s doing really good. He’s right on schedule,” informed Roach in an interview with Boxingtalk’s Brad Cooney.
As for the qualities that Morales could bring into the ring come fight night, Roach added: “He’s got a good overhand right, a good left upper cut. He makes real nice moves. We can’t just sit right in front of him, and be a target. We have to move side to side and use his hand speed and foot speed. Morales is a little slow…he’s kind of got a long heavy jab and we have to take advantage of that and counter on that. We need to be aware of where he’s at all times.”
If that happens, Barrera would again have another bad night again, Roach quipped.
