Roach wants earlier Australia trip for Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

Dissatisfied with Manny Pacquiao’s sparring session Tuesday, chief trainer Freddie Roach is thinking of reverting to their original training plan.

That is, for them to conduct the crucial stages of preparations in Gen. Santos City and proceed to Australia two weeks before Pacquiao stakes his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Australian Jeff Horn on July 2 in Brisbane.

Thus far, decision on both counts still hangs as there’s a proposition for Pacquiao to spend his local training entirely in Manila and leave for Brisbane on June 24.

Roach worked the mitts with Pacquiao Wednesday at Elorde Gym near Mall of Asia and left the ring satisfied as his prized ward proceeded to do a total of 24 rounds, including hitting the heavy bag and speed ball and skipping ropes.

The session was different from Tuesday, when Pacquiao merely went through the motions of doing two rounds against lightweight Leonardo Doronio and three against light welterweight Sonney Katiandagho.

The speed and stamina were there, but Roach lamented that Pacquiao’s timing was off and so was his perception of distance.

With over a month to go, Roach isn’t about to raise the bar on Pacquiao’s training as he wants it to be a gradual process. Roach is also keen on bringing in foreign sparring partners for his ward.