LOS ANGELES — “Everything’s going out of the window” if Manny Pacquiao ends up losing his fight with Mexican Hector Velazquez of Mexico this Saturday.
This was the belief of the Filipino fighter’s chief trainer Freddie Roach shortly after presiding over the workout of Pacquiao on Monday at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
A loss would send Pacquiao and his camp “back to square one” if Velazquez succeeds in handing the Philippines’ top sports hero his second straight loss following a narrow decision defeat to Erik Morales last March.
But Pacquiao and Morales are being tipped to win their respective bouts at Staples Center. In the co-main event, Morales meets Zahir Raheem of the US.
Top Rank Inc. has tentatively scheduled the Morales-Pacquiao rematch on Jan. 21 in Las Vegas.
But Pacquiao and Morales should win to seal the deal for a rematch early next year.
In the event the two emerge victorious, Roach said Pacquiao will have to adjust heavily as far as his itinerary for the remainder of the year is concerned.
“We are going to training camp and I have four choices to bring Manny to,” said Roach. “I am thinking of bringing him to Phoenix, Big Bear, Santa Barbara or Colorado Springs.”
“But it’s s choice between Phoenix and Santa Barbara because it’s just too cold in the mountains.”
Before heading to the training camp, Roach and some members of Pacquiao’s management team are going to spend two weeks in the Philippines to train.
“He’s not going to spend Christmas there. Sacrifice. No, not really considering what’s at stake (in the rematch).”
Roach said he plans to stay with Pacquiao for six weeks away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.
