As Manny Pacquiao’s training tapers off, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is convinced even more that the Filipino ring legend will easily dispose of Brandon Rios when they tangle on Nov. 24.
And Pacquiao won’t need to go the full 12 rounds, according to Roach.
Having watched tapes of Rios’ last 10 fights and seeing how determined Pacquiao is to reclaim his lofty ring status, Roach said the Fighter of the Decade will outbox Rios with ease and “knock him out inside six rounds.”
Speaking from Gen. Santos City, Roach reiterated his prediction of a Pacquiao win by stoppage during a teleconference late Wednesday night.
With just 10 days to go before the WBO Intercontinental welterweight title bout, Pacquiao sparred for six rounds with local light welterweight Dan Nazareno Jr. and Briton light middle-weight Liam Vaughan at his Wild Card Gym in GenSan.
According to Roach, Pacquiao will spar for four more rounds on Saturday, bringing his total to 110 rounds.
That will be way short of the 150 he usually does, but Roach said Pacquiao “doesn’t need the wear and tear at this point in his career.”
Roach said Pacquiao is now 90 percent ready for the Rios fight.
Team Pacquiao, which includes assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, heads for Macau by private jet from GenSan Monday afternoon after training.
Rios arrived in the gambling haven Wednesday after a long flight from Los Angeles.