Roach says Pacquiao is tired
There’s a jumpy twist in the otherwise energetic preparations of Manny Pacquiao for his world welterweight title challenge in Las Vegas on Nov. 5. This concern was delivered by trainer Freddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum themselves.
First, Arum confided he was not confident if Pacquiao can continue to manage his career in the Senate with his career in boxing.
Then, in his turn, Roach said Pacquiao appeared tired in training.
* * *
Veteran broadcaster Ronnie Nathanielsz reported yesterday that Pacquiao looked fatigued and listless in training at the Elorde Gym in the Mall of Asia on Thursday, described by Roach as “not a very happy day.”
“I think he is getting a little tired, he looks flat” Nathanielsz quoted Roach as saying.
“Manny is getting a bit older because of the stuff he is doing in the Senate,” Roach added.
* * *
Explained Arum: “For me, it seems maybe like it’s a lot too much.”
Arum did not suggest anything, except to say his title bout against Jessie Vargas “will tell a lot of things about Manny.”
Roach, on the other hand, said he’ll be giving Pacquiao a couple of rest days, instead of the customary one.
* * *
Arum described Vargas as an energetic kid who has been punching well, and could be “a danger to Manny.”
If anything, these latest developments should help improve the awful odds (in favor of Pacquiao), and could push lagging pre-fight sales for the championship described as “wholly unappetizing” and which Showtime has refused to distribute.
Top Rank Inc. has decided to take over the international broadcast of the Nov. 5 championship, with Tim Bradley doing commentary from ringside.
Bradley, who definitely knows more than enough about the greatness of Manny Pacquiao, was saying that Vargas merely surpassing himself would not be enough to lead the unheralded WBO welterweight champion to victory. Bradley said Pacquiao boxes on a wholly superb superior level.
