MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach has grown accustomed to Manny Pacquiao?s insatiable desire to conquer new horizons.
Since taking over head trainer duties for the General Santos City, Philippines native in 2001, Roach has seen Pacquiao evolve from a comebacking former champion at 112 pounds to an eight division champion who has won a congressional seat in his home country, released a soft rock album, starred in several movies and become the most recognizable face of his nation.
Now, as Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 knockouts) prepares to defend his WBO welterweight title against unbeaten New Yorker Chris Algieri on November 23, Pacquiao has added a new title: player-coach in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Pacquiao, 35, became the oldest rookie ever drafted in Asia?s first play-for-pay when the Kia Motors expansion squad he coaches picked him with the 11th pick on Sunday, August 24.
At that very moment, Roach was settling into his suite at The Venetian Resort in Macau, China, where the two-continent promotional tour kicks off on Monday afternoon. Roach acknowledges that juggling multiple responsibilities is part of who the Pacman is, but says he has made assurances with Pacquiao that boxing comes first when it’s time to fight.
?He?s a congressman, he?s always stayed busy, he used to do concerts after his fights. He gets bored very quickly, I don?t think it?s a problem,? Roach, a six-time Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Trainer of the Year, tells Rappler.
?The thing is with basketball, we stop 4 weeks before because of injuries with finger jams and twisted ankles. He?s a grown man, I can?t tell him what to do but if we negotiate a deal, it?s a done deal.?
Roach, like Pacquiao?s promoter Bob Arum, thinks of Pacquiao?s foray into basketball, which is the Philippines? true passion, as more of a side hobby than a career, saying ?That?s not real. He?s not good enough to play in that league, I know that.”
Roach won a battle over basketball by having Pacquiao train in his hometown of General Santos City, where they?ve prepared for their last two wins over Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley, instead of in Manila, where Pacquiao could train close to the Kia team.
?He?s comfortable there, he?s at home with his family,? said Roach. ?He gets to spend more time with his family there, he does have a basketball court there. He flies in teams to play against his team. The best part about it is its only 3 hours away from China and it?s on the same time zone and there?ll be no jet lag whatsoever.?
Serious threat
Roach has probably studied the 30-year-old Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) more stringently than any other coach, having trained Ruslan Provodnikov for his fight in June, which Algieri won by split decision to take the WBO junior welterweight title.
The 5-foot-10 Algieri rose off the canvas from two first round knockdowns to outbox the slower, shorter power puncher from Russia en route to victory, and Roach isn?t discounting the lesser-known fighter?s threat.
?He?s tough, he?s got a big heart, he?s got a good jab and he moves very well,? said Roach of Algieri. ?His height and his reach advantage and his jab could give us some problems.?
Still, Roach remains confident that Pacquiao will eventually break Algieri down for his first stoppage win since a 12th round TKO of Miguel Cotto in 2009.
?Algieri is very hittable,? said Roach. ?People don?t realize how fast [Pacquiao] is until they get in the ring with him, he does put his punches together very well. I think Algieri will get knocked out somewhere along the way.
?Ruslan had good early rounds, he had success with the one punch and he was looking for that one punch all night long. Manny?s not a one punch fighter, he?s a combination puncher, plus he?s much faster. He probably doesn?t hit as hard but he does have power and he?s so fast with his combinations, he?s a completely different kind of fighter.?
Gentlemen fighters
When Pacquiao and Algieri finally meet face-to-face on Monday, don?t expect trash talk or intimidation tactics from either camp. Algieri, who holds a master?s degree in clinical nutrition, tells Rappler he?s looking forward to showcasing the sport in a positive light before the media.
?That?s also a reason why I?m excited to fight Manny with the press tour because he?s a very humble champion, and from what I understand he?s a very good man,? said Algieri. ?It?ll be great to have two champions across from the dais from each other who are very respectful and are not going to at each other back and forth and be nasty. That isn?t always good for the sport.?
