Scare tactics? Pacquiao game plan will have Margarito quaking in fear, says Roach
MANILA—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao suffered a minor muscle injury during training at the Elorde Gym Saturday, but trainer Freddie Roach sees no cause for worry as the boxer’s camp prepares to leave for Baguio City.
In fact, Roach said it’s Antonio Margarito who should be scared.
“We are going to scare the sh_t out of Margarito,” Roach said. “That’s one thing Manny will do, he will scare people.”
Roach said the Pacman’s injury was nothing new to Team Pacquiao, which will motor to Baguio City Sunday for the more serious phase of preparations for the fight against the Mexican Margarito on Nov. 13.
“We will get that out of the way as soon as possible,” Roach said of the injury. “It’s not an injury we haven’t had before so we know how to deal with it.”
Pacquiao had a little swelling in his leg muscle during training Saturday. Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza will check out the minor scrape before the team heads for the country’s summer capital.
Even Pacquiao didn’t seem bothered by the injury as he went 10 rounds with the mitts aside from doing his usual routine.
“His power is very, very good, his speed is coming along and his timing is getting better,” Roach said. “[His] accuracy is not a hundred percent yet but it’s getting better.”
Roach has trained with Pacquiao in Manila for a week already, and the celebrated boxing guru couldn’t ask anything more from his equally celebrated ward.
“I’m thrilled. The thing is we had a great training camp and I expect training camp to be like this all the way through.”
The Elorde gym was packed with Pacquiao fans, including former PBA Best Import bobby Parks and son Ray, who will see action for National University next season. Parks said he “couldn’t leave until we see Manny throw some punches.”
Roach disclosed he would clamp down on onlookers when training camp gets underway in Baguio.
“We are going to have it closed down for the sparring and keep our game plan to ourselves a little bit more,” said Roach, who added that he may open the gym to fans “a couple of times, probably on Saturdays.”
Roach said that when the HBO 24/7 crew comes up to shoot Pacquiao’s sparring sessions, “we are going to have to hush up a little bit because we have a couple of surprises for Margarito.”
Roach said Pacquiao still has a lot in him in terms of boxing.
“I would like to see him get a couple more fights, then get (Floyd) Mayweather Jr and get out of there,” he added.
“If his hunger stays there like it is now, he can do this for four more years if he wanted to. His work ethic is better now than it was the first day we met. He amazed me the first day and he amazes me everyday. He has achieved so much but he still has that drive. It’s for his people.”
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