HOLLYWOOD, California ? Multi-awarded cornerman Freddie Roach showed no sign of anxiety Thursday concerning Manny Pacquiao?s fast-approaching March 19 fight with Erik Morales in Las Vegas.
Apparently, with good reason. Roach cannot think of one.
“I have full confidence in what Manny can do and we know that Erik has a great right hand that we know how to avoid that (punch),” Roach told the Bulletin. “I don?t have any concerns, really.”
“We?d like to work the body early and surely, the head will fall,” said Roach, who is not all worried by the reputation of Morales as having a granite jaw.
“He?s been hurt a few times, but I think he?s never been knocked down but I believe Manny has the power to knock him out.”
Even the weight advantage Morales is going to bring come fight night doesn?t worry Roach, who has been working with the Filipino puncher nicknamed “Pacman” since mid-2001.
“The heavier Morales goes into the ring, the happier I will get. Morales weighed 144 lbs when he fought and lost to (Marco Antonio) Barrera last year. And putting on that amount of weight in 24 hours will make you sluggish.”
Pacquiao should have no problem making the 130-lb super-featherweight limit on the eve of the scheduled 12-rounder, according to Roach, who thinks his prized prot?g? will come in at 128 or 129 lbs.
“Manny?s been training really hard and he just keeps on getting better,” added Roach after supervising his workout with a pair of Mexicans, Jose Sta. Cruz and Wary Beltran.
Pacquiao has logged a total of 153 rounds of sparring and by the time he arrives in Las Vegas on Monday, he would be armed with over 160 rounds as he is slated to spar on Saturday, and for the last time, on Monday.
Ben Viloria, whose son Brian, a world-rated flyweight from Honolulu is also under Roach, shares the sentiment of the bespectacled owner of the Wild Card Boxing Club on Vine Street.
“Masyadong mabilis at malakas si Manny at para siyang palos,” said Ben, who traces his roots to Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.
The Vilorias are one of countless Pacquiao supporters trooping to Las Vegas in anticipation of a slambang affair in front of a capacity crowd of 15,000.
Tickets are selling as if they?re marked down, but in reality, even those who have close links with the boxer, have been unable to secure passes to the bout that has all the trappings of a classic Hollywood movie.
Even Pacquiao himself is spending some time thinking on how to distribute tickets in his possession.
“Iyon nang binili ko na additional ay mukhang kulang pa eh,” said Pacquiao.
Sidelights: Manny Pacquiao walked through Jose Sta. Cruz with ease for three rounds, but Wary Beltran refused to be shamed as he engaged Pacquiao in heated exchanges before finding out in the third and final round that it was a mistake as the GenSan bomber responded with his trademark fourpunch combos?Lenny de Jesus, the New York?based Puerto Rican cutman of Pacquiao the last four fights, was in attendance. He is likely to work Pacquiao?s corner for the fifth straight time next week?After his two-hour workout before a large audience, Pacquiao and lawyer Keith Davidson sped off on board a latemodel silver Mercedes Benz?Rey Golingan, an avid supporter of Pacquiao in General Santos City, watched the Wild Card workout alongside Pedro Acharon, mayor of General Santos?After taking dinner at Sizzlers, Pacquiao himself drove his gray Lincoln Navigator to his twobedroom unit at Sunset+Vine. “Mas maganda pa rin ang takbo nung (Ford) Expedition ko,” quipped Pacquiao, who also owns a Honda CRV and a Mitsubishi Lancer.
