Roach: Pacquiao still has power, speed to KO Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach believes Manny Pacquiao will knockout Floyd Mayweather Jr. when the top two pound-for-pound fighters finally meet in the ring on May 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Easier said than done considering how great of a fighter Mayweather is at the defensive and that Pacquiao’s last seven wins went to the judges’ scorecards. While Pacquiao decked Chris Algieri six times in his previous fight, Mayweather is obviously in a whole different level.

But in an interview with Michael Woods on The Ring, Roach said Pacquiao still has the thunder in his power and lightning-quick hand speed to score a KO.

“I think Manny beats Floyd, breaks him down, and knocks him out before it’s over,” Roach said.

Roach added Mayweather, who turned 38 on Tuesday, is not the same fighter as he once was.

“In watching Floyd’s career, he’s definitely slowed down somewhat,” Roach, a former professional boxer, pointed out. “Manny has also some, everyone ages. But I think Manny’s legs are fresher than Floyd’s. Against Algieri, Manny boxed really good, good rounds the whole time.”

Roach also said Mayweather has no idea how strong Pacquiao’s punch is until he’s felt it.

“When Floyd sits down and rests, Manny will catch him. Floyd is a defensive master. But he takes rests,” the 54-year-old Roach said. “And the only place to do it is on the ropes.”

“If Manny catches him on the ropes, Floyd can look at Manny, think he has pretty fast hands, punches pretty hard. But you don’t really feel it until you’re in there with him. He has devastating power, and he jumps in so suddenly. He still has the power and speed to get a KO.”

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