MANILA, Philippines—“We have a big fight ahead of us, we have some great sparring partners, and we are ready to go to work.”
This was how Freddie Roach described the buildup in store for Manny Pacquiao shortly after the American trainer arrived Sunday with two big sparring partners.
With Roach were light middleweight Michael “Murder Man” Medina (24-2-2, 19 KOs) and undefeated welterweight Glen Tapia (7-0, 5 KOs).
Medina and Tapia are expected to provide the tough sparring Pacquiao needs for his Nov. 13 fight with Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC super welterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Roach said he would meet later in the day with pound-for-pound king Pacquiao, who will be planing in from General Santos City, to “work everything out.”
While the plan is to move the training camp to Baguio City “after a couple of days,” Roach said they will “start training tomorrow (Monday)” at the Johnny Elorde Gym in Quezon City, where Pacquiao trained for two days last week.
Roach said he has enough time to get Pacquiao in shape and find ways to solve Margarito’s five-inch edge in height and six-inch advantage in reach.
“No problem at all,” he said. “We have seven weeks and we’ll make the most of it.”
The celebrated trainer, who has presided over Pacquiao’s amazing run of seven world titles in seven weight classes, said Pacquiao wanted to train in the Philippines because “we had good luck here the last time.”
Pacquiao also trained here for his victory against WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto last November and the one-sided decision over Joshua Clottey in March.
Roach said he could train Pacquiao in any place. “Give me a ring and I’ll get him ready,” he added.
Roach emphasized that Pacquiao “has to be fit for Margarito … because the way Pacquiao fights, his condition is the key.”
“His style is nonstop, and that’s why he is the best in the world today. We have to be in 100-percent shape.”
Roach said Medina and Tapia, both six-footers, will be joined in the next couple of weeks by undefeated Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
“These guys will get him (Pacquiao) ready for the height and reach advantage of Margarito,” Roach said. “‘The ‘Tornado’ (Margarito’s moniker) is going to be downsized to a tropical storm, I promise you.”
Another sparmate, welterweight Rashad Holloway (11-1-2, 5 KOs), will be added to the roster when Pacquiao’s training moves to the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
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