IN a sense, Manny Pacquiao?s famed American trainer is of the belief Oscar Larios is the better fighter than legendary compatriots Eric Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.
At this point in time, that is.
But on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum, Freddie Roach said the 29-year old Larios could just be exposed as mere mortal, a less ordinary fighter below the standards of the two great Mexican warriors, who both fell at the hands of the man they brazenly called ?Pacman.?
In a show of confidence, Larios? agent Rafael Mendoza boasted that his prot?g? is stronger and has the superior skills than both Barrera and Morales when they first came to the country last April.
His stand remains the same two months after, reiterating that same conviction yesterday at the jampacked press conference for the Pacquiao-Larios 12-round slugfest.
Roach, Pacquiao?s long-time handler, didn?t dare contradict him. ?At this stage of the event, that could be a possibility,? said Roach at the crowded presidential table of the Discovery Suites lounge located on the 22nd floor. ?Larios is the fresher fighter. He?s the tougher guy right now. He?s the guy we?ve got to take care of at this moment. But we?ll see that possibility on Sunday.?
Seated beside Larios, Pacquiao said he can?t wait for the fight to begin and have a taste of the Mexican?s real firepower.
?Excited na akong matikman ang suntok ni Larios,? said the former two-time world champion, smiling.
Larios, himself an ex-world titlist at the 122 lbs. division, carries an awesome record of 56 wins, four losses and a draw, including 36 knockouts, the kind of numbers he believe can topple a customer as tough as Pacquiao.
?I?m not thinking of a loss. I?m thinking of victory,? said Larios in Spanish as translated by Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions.
His fight with Pacquiao guarantees Larios the biggest paycheck ($450,000) of his colorful, 12-year career. And an upset could easily mean bigger pays for the Guadalajara native in future matches.
?A victory against Pacquiao would mean a lot of money for him,? Gomez said. ?There?s no future without a win here.?
Roach doesn?t see Larios fulfilling that dream.
?Manny will treat him (Larios) badly by ending the fight quickly,? stressed the American trainer under whose guidance produced a total of 18 world champions.
Again he reiterated that the bout will finish inside six rounds in favor of the Filipino southpaw.
?If we go by the fight plan, I think we can do it,? he added.
SIDELIGHTS: Veteran and popular boxing commentator Bob Sheridan arrived in the country to cover the Pacquiao-Larios bout, which he describes as ?a lot of fun? and an ?action-packed fight all the way.? Sheridan has covered a total of 805 world title fights. He said the last time he was in the country was 31 years ago during the historic ?Thrilla in Manila??.. Of the 18 world champions he had groomed, Roach considers Pacquiao the most special, saying ?He?s the best fighter I?ve worked so far,? a statement that drew a round of applause from the packed audience?. Despite his fame and wealth, Pacquiao showed his humble side by admitting, ?Hindi ko iniisip na magaling akong boksingero?.?
