Boxing trainer and hall of famer, Freddie Roach is looking forward to seeing the return of his number 1 fighter, Manny Pacquiao. Roach has taken Pacquiao to world titles in 8 divisions and most recently guided Pacquiao to a dominate victory over rival Timothy Bradley, a fight that saw the 37 year old Pacquiao look as good as ever.
In part 2 of my “On The Ropes” with Freddie Roach, I discuss the probable return of Manny Pacquiao and what options he sees out there for his fighter. Roach also talks about Pacquiao’s previous bout against Bradley and if he wants to see a Mayweather Trilogy. Additionally Freddie speaks on his stable of fighters and their upcoming fights. Here is what Freddie Roach had to say.
Jenna J: Manny Pacquiao is coming off of an impressive win over Timothy Bradley in April. How did you feel about his performance?
Freddie Roach: I thought it was one of his best performances in a long time. I saw a little bit of the old Manny, he came back very well, he had a little bit of that killer instinct back and I really liked that fight. Now I’m hearing rumors about another fight but nothing definite yet.
Manny hasn’t called me yet, so there’s nothing that I have to worry about at this point, but if he does decide to fight again, he will call me and we’ll go over the opponent and who it may be. There’s a lot of rumors out there, but Manny still has a lot of fight left in him and the way that he trained for the last fight and the way he fought the last fight, I know he has at least two really good fights left in him.
Jenna J: Do you still see a chance of the Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch ever happening?
Freddie Roach: That’s probably the only reason that we’re staying in the game, because we do want a rematch with Mayweather and we would like to get that. Mayweather has been to my gym a couple of times and I saw him at a restaurant in LA one time and he took pictures with my friends, he was very polite and very nice.
Mayweather told me he hasn’t trained a day since he retired and I said, “Hey, I thought you were a gym rat, you’re always in the gym,” and he said, “I haven’t worked out a day since I retired.” I told him, “There’s still some big fights out there for you.” I didn’t ask him about Manny at all but I don’t know the real reason why he’s coming by to visit. He doesn’t want me to be his trainer I don’t think, but I thought maybe it was for him and Manny to get together one more time.
I know Manny wants the rematch really bad, Manny thought he won the first fight and if you look at it with no commentating, you watch and see him landing more punches. I still was a little disappointed in Manny’s performance but now he’s one hundred percent and I think at one hundred percent, he will destroy him.
Jenna J: Freddie, if you had to bet, do you think just Pacquiao comes back or both of them?
Freddie Roach: To be honest, I think they both come back because of the money issues. Manny is too generous and he gives his money away and Mayweather seems to spend a lot of money — he just bought a house in LA. I think the money issue could help both of them, so Manny can build more hospitals, schools and churches.
Manny is a really good guy and when you can bet a million dollars on basketball games, to me that’s maybe a little bit reckless but Mayweather seems to be able to do that. If you can bet a million dollars, you better be able to lose it because you don’t always win. There’s a lot of money on the table still, and I still think the fight does really well. If we get Mayweather after our next fight, it’s like a dream come true.
Jenna J: Can you let fans know about some of the young fighters you’re currently working with?
Freddie Roach: Frankie Gomez is just getting back in the gym, he just had a very good win in his last fight, he’s going to be something to deal with in the 140lb division, when I get him to 140lb.
I do have some really good young prospects, I just took over the featherweight champion of the world from Argentina, he’s a really strong kid. His next fight may be in Texas or Las Vegas against Abner Mares. I don’t have a date on that fight but the kid is very strong, great puncher, huge featherweight. He has a little trouble making weight but as long as he stays on his diet, it’s no problem.
It’s over, he was suppose to be beat Floyd. He had his chance. It’s over.
Manny couldn’t do anything really effective in the Mayweather fight, nothing! It was as if Mayweather was invisible and Manny couldn’t see him? That’s what GREAT defensive fighters do, control their opponents!! Manny was only able to do maybe 30-40 percent of what he is capable of doing! I’d be completely surprised if Manny were to overwhelm Mayweather in the next fight? BUT, if he was to forge an opening, and throw those bewildering number of quick Manny type shots, he may be able to squeeze-in a few hard powerful shots before Mayweather was able to adjust? But Mayweather, the thinking man’s fighter, knows more than enough about Manny, maybe more the next time around, to win as handily as he did the first time? IMO of course! Then, Mayweather has those quick hard shots once he sees an opening, enough to make his opponents wary of his power and capability!
Yeah he can because he faster than hem and stronger than hem
If Mayweather shows up, which Roach said he wouldn’t do up until the actual day of the fight.
Manny Pacquiao never had the tools to beat a fighter like Floyd…if you know boxing its just simply apparent Pacman is a sensational fighter but at no point in history would this fight have ever been more than it was Manny’s style is Tailor made to get outboxed by Floyd… It doesn’t matter if one thinks Floyd is a nice guy or an asshole he is more gifted in the ring than Manny and he always has been.. Nothing else matters
they should fight in a neutral ground, we can see who is d best of the two.
Manny only became less than 100% after the loss
but yet you are scared of Crawford?
Manny hasn’t been in his prime since the Margarito fight took a huge toll on him.
I used to respect both Manny and roach. I was even a fan of the two until late the night he lost to Mayweather. Then their “B” side was exposed
Still find it hilarious how Manny’s successes didn’t go straight to Manny’s head but went straight to Freddie’s lol
What is freddy roach taking these days? Fucking no chance
The thing about Freddie is that he’s pretty damn good (and honest) about talking about fighters and fights that don’t involve him. On the other hand, when he talks about his own fighters, we’re all less intelligent for having heard it.
Let it go Freddie for fuck sake
2009-2011 Pacquiao could
It’s over bud. You’re not getting that payday. You had your shot. You begged for 5 years got your wish and Pac won 3 rounds. End of story.
floydie knows how dangerous a fighter manny is that’s why he’s not giving manny a rematch.
roach is right, manny at 100% physically fit he can destroy floyd.
Destroy Mayweather at what? Being a Filipino politician? Certainly not boxing or basketball.
Freddie wanna build a new house after he lost his last 2 in the cotto fight
Lost all respect Freddie!better just leave it please don’t embarrass ureself!
Destroying Freddie roach that he couldn’t beat floyed,all of his fighters and it’s come to and end!!!
Manny couldn’t do a thing once Floyd got that jab and counter right hand going. He also didn’t have the size or strength to pressure Floyd and force him to back up. He also couldn’t cut off the ring and take that real estate away from Floyd. Manny and Freddie begged Floyd to stand still for a reason
Even Freddy doesn’t believe that anymore!
why are there so many stupid flomos in this thread? you moronic flomos don’t know any reasoning except that manny is on PEDS, his shoulder injury is a fake, that he was outboxed by ME, etc….hey stupid flomos here is what i am fucking tell you. “GO OUT AND OPEN YOUR MINDS AND NOT WHAT YOU HEAR WHAT I SAY WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY WHAT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IN BOXING TELL YOU THAT YOU BELIEVE AS FACTS”!!! THESE ARE ALL LIES YOU STUPID. TAKE IT FROM ME. I — USED PEDS BEFORE THE FIGHT AGAINST MANNY. THAT ALONE IS ALREADY A BIG PSYCHOLOGICAL DISADVANTAGE FOR MANNY. BESIDE THE FACT THAT HIS RIGHT SHOULDER IS ALSO INJURED! I RAN A LOT AND CLINCHED A LOT BECA– USE THAT IS THE ONLY REASON I BELIEVE TO FIGHT AND WIN AGAINST MANNY. OTHERWISE MY LOSE COLUMN WOULD BE TAINTED. YOU ONLY KNOW SHIT YOU FLOMOS!!! STUPID!!!
PAC is not focused on boxing anymore , that’s also one of the reasons he lost to Floyd. People around him were the ones got him into all these mess. He could’ve destroyed all of them first then retire.
Manny will go down in history as a great champion. They fought already, bum shoulder or not, Manny had a hard time with the timing and distancing of Mayweather. Mayweather is and will go down historically as the better boxer. It is like saying Tyson would have done this and that to Holyfield or Lewis if he did not go to prison. I say it’s a bullshit copout.
Pac has a great chance now. Floyd has not fought in 1 year, and will be 40 years old in February. Make the deal Pac. Make your fans happy.
Roach said earlier that if it is Crawford, Pac needs a tune up fight. However, if it is Mayweather, Pac is ready. Money talks. Everybody likes to meet Floyd.
If all boxing fans accept the truth and use our common sense that Mr. IV Mayweather was caught cheating from his previous fight with Hon. Senator Manny Pacquiao . The truth will set us all free!!!
Whats all the hate about, yall riding floyd dick a little to much ,
NEGRO MAYWEATHER IS SCARED. HE IS ASSHOLE. MAYWEATHER IS AN IDIOT NEGRO. JUST GO TO JAIL YOU BELONG TO JAIL. MAYWEATHER IS GOOD PUNCHING WOMEN ONLY.