Posted in behalf of Romy.
I spoke at length with Freddie Roach at Wild Card Boxing Gym on Wednesday, and he was very upbeat and excited about traveling to the Philippines this Saturday, and training in Baguio City for four weeks.
“I am looking forward to training in Baguio,” Roach said. “I heard that it is a very beautiful place, and Manny’s pretty comfortable there. So wherever Manny’s comfortable is good for our training camp.”
I mentioned that the last training camp in the Philippines, was in Wakee Salud’s gym in Cebu City, I asked him, why the change of location for the training. And he simply answered, “Too many people.”
I asked Coach Freddie what he thinks about the Mayor of Baguio City, Reinaldo Bautista Jr., asking residents of Baguio City to cooperate with the security measures and to give Manny room to do his road runs and work out.
“Thank you, Mayor,” Roach said, “I appreciate all the concern and cooperation that the City is doing to prepare Manny for this coming fight.”
Roach conceded that training in the Philippines, offers a lot of distractions for Manny. With a lot of high profile personages dropping by to see the mythical pound for pound king train for the coming fight, and it would not be easy to say no to these politicians and celebrities.
“Well, I have to be the bad guy then,” Freddie Roach said with an angelic smile. “I guess it would have to be me to throw out the governors, mayors, and other famous people.”
I brought up the subject of the latest Floyd Mayweather Sr. brouhaha, alleging steroid use by the Pinoy Idol, Manny Pacquiao.
“You have to consider the source, who is saying what,” Freddie Roach said. “This guy has little credibility and has a dysfunctional family.”
I asked him if he is going to watch the Mayweather-Marquez fight live on PPV. He said, “No way, I’m not going to pay even 10 cents to watch that fight!”
On why he thinks Miguel Cotto is a more dangerous opponent for Manny Pacquiao than Oscar de la Hoya or Ricky Hatton, Freddie Roach said, “Miguel Cotto is young and in his prime, and he is also very proud fighter. Not many realize this, but Miguel Cotto is also very intelligent in the ring. He is thinking as he boxes.”
I mentioned that Miguel Cotto is known for applying pressure and power punches against his opponents, how do you think that’s going to work against Manny?
Roach said, “That is what I want to happen, let him come in, I have the better puncher.”
I asked him if he was working on another secret weapon against Miguel Cotto this time
Freddie Roach answered, No secret weapon, just, yeah, my secret weapon is Manny Pacuiao. And then I want to invite you all to watch his show, and there’s nothing Cotto can do about it, because I have the better fighter.”
