AMERICAN trainer Freddie Roach plans to set up training camp for Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines to begin the boxer’s buildup to a much-awaited rematch with Mexican ring idol Erik Morales in January.
In an interview with the website 15rounds.com on Tuesday, Roach said he plans to train Pacquiao in the country first, while the remaining six weeks before the fight against Morales would be spent in seclusion in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Manny has a nice gym there, so we will train there to start out, then I’m pretty sure we will be six weeks in Phoenix, Arizona,” Roach said. “There is a possibility we may take a look at a camp in San Bernardino, but right now it looks like Phoenix.”
Although Roach did not exactly say where “PacMan” would set up camp, a source said that it would be most likely be in Davao City, the same site of his preparations before he fought 3K Fahsan Battery in December last year.
In fact, the source said, the fighter’s management team, led by Shelly Finkel, would be in the country and be around when Manny celebrates his birthday on December 17 in his hometown of General Santos City.
Roach said that they expected a far more dangerous Morales in the return bout, noting that the Mexican ring warrior was still smarting from his narrow loss to former Olympian Zahir Raheem.
“We are looking for the good Morales, not the one that fought [against Raheem]. Morales took that guy a little lightly, and he won’t do that against Manny,” the trainer said.
“He [Morales] doesn’t like Manny, and Manny doesn’t like Erik, it’s as simple as that. This is going to be a great rematch and we are looking for revenge,” added Roach, recalling the close unanimous decision loss his absorbed at the hands of the Mexican.
“I told Manny we are going to have to cancel his birthday coming up. Birthdays come once a year, and a fight like this only comes once in a lifetime.”
Also the trainer of newly crowned World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Brian Viloria, Roach said the focus is still fighting Jorje Arce in the 112-pound division, perhaps in the undercard of the Morales-Pacquiao main event.
“But I don’t think we want 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,” Roach said.
“It would be a great fight, with two little guys that can really punch, and that’s what makes that fight different than the other little guys; they can bang!”
