‘KO will be bonus,’ says Roach

Manny Pacquiao talks to trainer Freddie Roach during the final press conference held at the KA Theatre in MGM Grand, Las Vegas Nevada on Wednesday, 29 April 2015. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA/INQUIRER/ See more at FRAME

LAS VEGAS—There’s no substitute for meticulous preparation.

Freddie Roach adheres to this philosophy and applies it to his fighters, led by eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

As soon as Pacquiao’s gigantic showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was officially announced, Roach buckled down to work. He gathered video tapes of Mayweather’s previous fights and started reviewing them, over and over again until he’d virtually memorized the fight sequence and highlight reels.

When Pacquiao arrived at his Wild Card Gym on Feb. 28, Roach was ready with a fight blueprint.

They sat down many times, discerned the tapes, dissected the rounds and improved on the original plan as the days went by.

Now, Roach feels Pacquiao is in prime condition to blot Mayweather’s immaculate record of 47-0.

“We’ve had a great training camp,” said Roach. “We have more speed and more power and we are 100-percent ready for what he will bring to the table. I have studied Floyd more than anyone else. I think we can outpoint him. If the chance for a knockout comes, it will be a bonus.”

Though Pacquiao would concede a two-inch height and five-inch reach advantage to Mayweather, Roach isn’t bothered a bit.

The seven-time Trainer of the Year believes Pacquiao’s speed and power will more than compensate.

“Weight doesn’t win fights, speed does,” said Roach. “Manny is faster than ever and he’s definitely hitting harder than ever. Mayweather is a good counter-puncher, but Manny has faster hands and his combinations are better.”