source: gmanetwork.com
Freddie Roach believes a southpaw fighter like Manny Pacquiao can put an end to the 43-match unbeaten streak of Floyd Mayweather Jr. if ever both superstar boxers finally meet inside the ring.
For years, Top Rank Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions have been trying to arrange a possible megabuck Mayweather-Pacquiao bout but negotiations bogged down after both parties failed to agree on issues like purse split and drug testing protocol.
Roach, Pacquiao's celebrated trainer, said being busy and active against Mayweather is the way to beat the brash-talking American fighter.
"The way to beat Floyd is to outwork him every minute of every round. Manny is the only fighter capable of executing that game plan. Activity kills Mayweather. You need to stay busy against him and not let him dictate the pace by slowing down the fight," said Roach, who was a five-time Boxing Writers Association of America's (BWAA) Trainer of the Year.
"Southpaws are his (Mayweather) other weakness. Manny is just a bad combination for Floyd to fight. If it would bring Floyd into the ring, I'd agree to have Manny fight him right-handed," he added.
Roach, who clearly wants to see a future Pacquiao-Mayweather match, said he failed to watch Mayweather's unanimous decision win over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
"But I do know that Floyd's slippery defense is now better outside the ring than inside the ring. But that is the path he has chosen," said Roach after Mayweather declared that he is already thinking of retiring, again.
Mayweather Jr., who clinched the junior middleweight belt against Cotto last week, will also start serving his 87-day jail sentence on June 1.
ESPN.com boxing writer Dan Rafael, however, said that only a few boxing fans believe Mayweather will fully retire since the undefeated American remains in top fighting form.
Roach, meanwhile, is closely monitoring Pacquiao's training camp as the Filipino boxing superstar is set to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley Jr. (28-0, 12 knockouts) on June 9 (June 10 Manila time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the same venue of the Mayweather-Cotto bout.
Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs), who arrived in Los Angeles the same day Mayweather and Cotto slugged it out inside the ring, resumed his training camp at Roach's Wild Card gym.
"I'm glad to be back at Freddie's gym. I have no plans to retire. I still love what I'm doing. Freddie and I had a good camp in the Philippines and we are ready to work very hard in preparation for Bradley," added Pacquiao.
Pacquiao described the undefeated Bradley as a strong and young fighter. "I have a great deal of respect for his (Bradley's) talents and his accomplishments."
Roach said Pacquiao will be in fighting shape before he climbs into the ring. "We are on a steady pace to get Manny to where he will peak on June 9."
"We built a good base to build on in our training in the Philippines. Now it's time for the hard work and the strategy."
source: gmanetwork.com
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