Freddie Roach says Marquez’s weight ploy a mistake

LAS VEGAS—Hit or miss, Freddie Roach has never pulled his punches on his predictions. And he’s not going to start now.

After watching Juan Manuel Marquez bulk up to match—at least in size—Manny Pacquiao, Roach has an idea of how their November 12 showdown at the MGM Grand will go. It will be action-packed right off the bell. It will be fast-paced. So fast, in fact, that it could be over quickly.

“Don’t be surprised if this fight [ends in] one round,” Roach told journalists before hitting the road with a snaking convoy that took Team Pacquiao from Los Angeles to this brightly-lit desert gambling and entertainment haven.

“I know that’s a bold statement.”

While he may have missed out on his last few knockout predictions, Roach has been on the dot several times previously and has never shied away from trying to pinpoint exactly when the end will come for the opponent.

This time, though, aside from having watched Pacquiao put in a whole lot of extra work and grit into preparing for this WBO welterweight championship, Roach is backing his prediction up with the way the Marquez camp has conducted itself.

“He is so much bigger now and went on a weight program in such a short time,” Roach said. “And there’s only one way to use that effectively and that’s to fight Manny Pacquiao.”

“I think he will try to come out early and exchange with us,” added Roach.

The Filipino ring icon, currently the world’s acknowledged pound-for-pound king, said he’s ready for that.

“I’m prepared and I’m excited,” he told a television interview.

Roach believes that with the Marquez camp trading speed for weight gain, the Mexican counterpuncher will try to engage Pacquiao in trading combinations—a ploy that could have Marquez walking right into a Pacquiao haymaker.

“He will try to exchange with Manny, come after Manny,” Roach said. “I told Manny to be ready for a fast start because [Marquez] will try to get him early.”

“And if he does that, he’ll end up in the floor.”

Roach said engaging Pacquiao could only be the reason for Marquez’ decision to bulk up in a short span. The noted trainer called it “a mistake.”

“I love it for my guy,” said Roach.

Roach said he had Pacquiao simply go through the motions and hinted that he’ll have the Filipino ring icon simply work out to keep his weight with four days left before fight night.

“We sparred like four rounds and did five rounds with the mitts,” Roach said. Pacquiao also hit the bags before doing crunches to cap his Hollywood training. He is expected to train just one more day here and will spend the rest of the days leading to the fight possibly doing a little road work.

Pacquiao weighed 144 pounds after training Saturday, right on the dot for the catch weight stipulated in the fight pact.