Freddie Roach brings 15rounds up to speed on what is clearly one of the most impressive boxing stables in the game. Roach speaks candidly about the upcoming Manny Pacquaio-Erik Morales rematch, James Toney, Brian Viloria, Peter Manfredo Jr, Israel Vasquez and much more…
15rounds – Freddie, good to talk to you again. Bring everybody up to speed on what’s been going on with you lately.
FR – Well, we had a good weekend in Vegas, with Bobby Pacquiao and my Olympian Vanes Martirosyan. Vanes had a nice 1st round knock out; getting his 5th win.
15rounds – Talk a little bit about Vanes – this kid seems to have major potential Freddie.
FR – Brad, I think Vanes is going to be my next superstar. Vanes has a lot of potential, although he didn’t really show it in his first few fights but he’s only 18 yrs old. The kid spars with guys like Manfredo Jr, so his confidence is growing and growing, he is a very talented kid.
15rounds – How’s Manfredo Jr., looking in camp so far?
FR – Peter looks really good Brad, we had our last day of sparring today, and he looks great. Peter will do a lot better than he did in the first fight against Mora, he’s in much better shape, he’s working hard, and he’s a great student. It has been a pleasure to have Peter and his dad in the gym.
15rounds – Freddie, let’s talk a little more about the fight with Bobby Pacquaio and Carlos Hernandez – there were a lot of people that thought Bobby lost that fight; what are your thoughts on the decision?
FR – Well, initially I thought Carlos won the fight, but after looking at the tape there were some really close rounds in there. I guess it could have been a draw, but we had a knockdown and we won the first few rounds, and we made a comeback in the 9th and 10th round. I thought the fight was a very fight and the judges gave it to us. It was a huge win for Pacquiao, it was his biggest win thus far. If Carlos wants a rematch, we will give it to him anytime. Also, we’d like a possible title shot with somebody like Jesus Chavez….
15rounds – Freddie, when is Manny Pacquiao due back in the states to begin his training for the much anticipated Erik Morales-Manny Pacquaio rematch?
FR – Well, our plan right now is to train Manny over in The Philippines for the first few weeks of his training camp. Manny has a real nice gym there, so we will train there to start out, then I’m pretty sure we will be 6 weeks in Phoenix Arizona for the rest of training camp. There is a possibility we may take a look at a camp in San Bernardino, but right now it looks like Phoenix. We are looking for the good Morales, not the one that fought the other night. Morales took that guy a little lightly, and he won’t do that against Manny Pacquiao because he doesn’t like Manny, and Manny doesn’t like Erik, it’s simple as that. This is going to be a great rematch, and we are looking for revenge! I know we can fight a better, and smarter fight, we need to get down to business in camp, get some privacy, and we’ll be ready, there’s no doubt about that.
15rounds – Freddie, you guys must be looking forward to having a much more focused Manny Pac in camp this go around. He won’t have all of that bull going on in his head like last time before the fight.
FR – Brad, I think it’s going to be a huge difference. There will be no distractions; he won’t have to worry about getting tickets, rooms, his wife being able to get a ticket, somebody taking all of his money, etc. All he has to worry about is winning the fight. I told Manny we are going to have to cancel his birthday coming up (laughing), birthday’s come once a year, and fights like this only come once in a lifetime. Also, Barrera is talking some about wanting a rematch, so we’re taking a look in that direction as well…
15rounds – Freddie, give your thoughts on what you think happened to Morales against Raheem.
FR – Well, we were offered the same opponent, and turned it down. Raheem is a good boxer, he’s a former Olympian, and had a great amateur career. I think Manny could beat the guy, but he’s one of those guys that frustrates you in the ring. I just feel Morales was too small for him – he came in at 136lb – and struggled to make the weight … I think he may have taken the guy lightly and you just can’t do that in boxing. I think Morales just got caught with his hands down. Not taking anything away from Raheem, because he fought a GREAT fight, and if we beat Morales I am sure there will be some talk about us fighting Raheem, and it’s something that we will have to look out for, that’s for sure. Raheem just fought a great fight, you know? In boxing, you have good days and bad days … Morales had a bad one, and Raheem had a good one.
15rounds – Freddie, talk more about the feelings between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales. What’s the deal between these two guys?
FR – Well, Morales is a nasty guy, he’s a mean guy. Just like he doesn’t get along with Barrera, Morales just does better against guys he doesn’t like. It’s no real big deal … It’s like James Toney said the other night, he was talking about Chris Byrd and his opponent being friends, and James said, ” I DON’T HAVE ANY FRIENDS, I HATE YOU ALL, I’LL KNOCK YOU ALL OUT ” (laughing)… we can be friends down the road aways.. but right now to Manny Pacquiao, it’s a fight!
15rounds – Freddie, I can’t think of a better way to segue into James Toney. James came in heavy the other night, but he was typical James Toney and pretty much beat up Domnick Guinn.
FR – He did, we had to take 14 days off before the fight. All we did was cardio with James so we could rest his hand. I thought it was more important to get his hand heeled up, and when James Toney complains about pain, you know damn well he’s hurt because the guy just doesn’t complain about stuff like that. I thought it would mess with James timing a little bit, but Guinn fought our style of fight, so James went out there and did his thing. James once told me that he was born to fight, ‘and all the rest have to practice’ … I believe him now (laughing). The guy is just plain talented, and has so much natural talent, and he’s fun to be around.. and you know what? I think he’s the best heavyweight out there right now!
15rounds – Freddie, what’s next for James Toney?
FR – Well there’s talk of maybe Byrd, maybe Brewster but to tell you the truth Brad, we want the winner of the Rahman-Klitschko fight. We think Klitschko is the most recognized fighter out there, and we think we can beat him. I don’t think Klitschko keeps James at the end of his jab, I think James gets inside of this guy, and will do his thing. I think James is better as a heavyweight than he was at a middleweight, he fights consistantly as a heavyweight, he breaks guys down, he goes to the body, the head, and he fears nobody. Brad, James honestly wants to kill every Heavyweight, every one of them (laughing).
15rounds – Freddie, what’s the plan for Brian Viloria?
FR – Well, they are talking about Arce right now, but I don’t think we want to jump to 112 yet. I think we will defend his title at 108 a few times, then we will talk about moving up and going after Jorge Arce. It would be a great fight, with two little guys that can really punch, and that’s what makes that fight different than other little guys; they can bang!!
15rounds – Israel Vasquez goes after Larios again, talk about that.
FR – Israel is a great kid. You would never know who he is when he walks in … he’s no bullshit, and he’s a great worker. Larios looked good his last few fights, there’s no love lost between these guys either, and I think Israel is in the best shape of his life right now … and we’ll see what happens.
15rounds – Freddie, you’re class act and I appreciate you talking to 15rounds today.
FR – Brad, always a pleasure … keep in touch.
