LOS ANGELES ? On an intellectual level, Freddie Roach breaks down the third fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez fight on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas and can see only one result: a one-sided victory for his fighter.
On a gut level, a small part of him isn?t so sure.
Pacquiao and Marquez fought on even terms in 2004 (draw) and 2008 (Pacquiao split decision), which failed to answer the question of who is the better fighter. Maybe Marquez simply knows how to be competitive with Pacquiao.
?Sometimes people have people?s number,? said Roach, speaking at a news conference Wednesday at The Beverly Hills Hotel. ?Will Manny fall into the trap, fall into Marquez?s plan like he did in those fights? ? You never know.
?In the back of my mind ? I think sometimes guys just have a style that you have difficulty with. This could be one of them.?
Roach has respect for Marquez, who at 38 remains one of the best fighters in the world. The famous trainer said Pacquiao?s rival presents a challenge bigger than anyone except Floyd Mayweather Jr. Marquez, he said, is the best counterpuncher on the planet.
Still, when Roach is asked why the third fight won?t be anything like the first two, he exudes confidence.
Promoter Bob Arum said anyone who judges Marquez based on his performance against Mayweather, a near-shutout decision in 2009, is crazy. Counterpunchers need their opponents to come to them. Mayweather didn?t; Pacquiao will.
