LOS ANGELES ? Exactly a week before the fight, Freddie Roach wants Manny Pacquiao all to himself when the Filipino star works out Saturday at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Roach was reportedly pissed when the gym was transformed into some kind of a playground on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Wild Card security boss Rob Peters, who dined together with Manila-based scribes who had flown in late Friday along with key Pacquiao family members.
Roach didn?t actually mind seeing a big crowd in the gym last Wednesday since it was declared an open media workout but the following day, it was even worse, according to publicist Fred Sternburg.
?There were more people here Thursday than Wednesday,? said Sternburg.
Although Pacquiao is tapering off, Roach wants Pacquiao?s undivided attention as they get closer to next week?s crossroads showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao will spar for the penultimate time and Roach wants a semblance of order during the crucial stage of their buildup.
But after the sparring session, the doors will be opened, said Peters.
Team Pacquiao leaves for Sin City on Monday.
Meanwhile, Marquez is doing everything possible not to lose focus, even going to the extent of not allowing his family ? wife and kids ? to watch his fight live.
Marquez told the Mexican media that he has learned his lesson.
?I need total concentration,? said Marquez, 39, who is aching to finally inflict Pacquiao his first loss in their head-to-head matchups.
?They?ll watch this fight on TV,? added Marquez, who will travel to the US from Mexico on board a private plane that Top Rank chief Bob Arum had leased.
Marquez will fulfill promotional and TV commitments here until Monday before that same plane ferries him to Las Vegas.
