Roach: Manny’s speed to neutralize Margarito’s power
MANILA, Philippines—Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach shrugged off on Thursday fellow trainer Robert Garcia’s prediction that his ward, Antonio Margarito, would knock Manny Pacquiao out in their showdown for the vacant WBC superwelterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium on November 13 in Arlington, Texas.
According to Internet reports, Garcia said that Margarito, being taller and bigger, would push Pacquiao to the ropes, lean on him, try to bully him and then give him a beating.
But Roach told the Philippine Daily Inquirer during Pacquiao’s workout at the Johnny Elorde Gym in Quezon City on Thursday that Garcia’s pronouncements were far from the truth.
Roach said that in contrast, “the reports I get from his camp is that he is very slow. I am not worried about Margarito.”
The four-time Trainer of the Year explained that “people don’t really know. You can watch Manny on TV and say, oh he’s fast. But you don’t know how fast he is until you get in the ring with him.
“And you know what, there is no sparring partner in the world who can mimic Manny Pacquiao. The guys that he (Garcia) has are going to be slow compared to Manny.”
Although he acknowledged Margarito’s five-inch height and six-inch reach advantages, Roach said these should be no cause for alarm.
“As long as Manny is a hundred percent in shape, which he will be, I am not worried about anybody in the world,” the trainer said.
Conditioning guru Alex Ariza described Margarito as a fighter who “relies on pressure.”
“He’s gonna take as many punches as you can give him, wear you down and then he’ll pick up the pace by the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds. But with Manny you can’t do that,” said Ariza.
“You get yourself hit by Manny that much, I can guarantee you are going to get knocked out. I don’t care how good [Margarito’s] chin is, you are going to get knocked out by Manny if you let him hit you.”
Team Pacquiao will leave for Baguio City on Sunday afternoon to resume training.
According to Internet reports, Garcia said that Margarito, being taller and bigger, would push Pacquiao to the ropes, lean on him, try to bully him and then give him a beating.
But Roach told the Philippine Daily Inquirer during Pacquiao’s workout at the Johnny Elorde Gym in Quezon City on Thursday that Garcia’s pronouncements were far from the truth.
Roach said that in contrast, “the reports I get from his camp is that he is very slow. I am not worried about Margarito.”
The four-time Trainer of the Year explained that “people don’t really know. You can watch Manny on TV and say, oh he’s fast. But you don’t know how fast he is until you get in the ring with him.
“And you know what, there is no sparring partner in the world who can mimic Manny Pacquiao. The guys that he (Garcia) has are going to be slow compared to Manny.”
Although he acknowledged Margarito’s five-inch height and six-inch reach advantages, Roach said these should be no cause for alarm.
“As long as Manny is a hundred percent in shape, which he will be, I am not worried about anybody in the world,” the trainer said.
Conditioning guru Alex Ariza described Margarito as a fighter who “relies on pressure.”
“He’s gonna take as many punches as you can give him, wear you down and then he’ll pick up the pace by the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds. But with Manny you can’t do that,” said Ariza.
“You get yourself hit by Manny that much, I can guarantee you are going to get knocked out. I don’t care how good [Margarito’s] chin is, you are going to get knocked out by Manny if you let him hit you.”
Team Pacquiao will leave for Baguio City on Sunday afternoon to resume training.
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