Roach wants Pacman to slow down

By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated September 24, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach is facing the same old problem in training camp: how to prevent Manny Pacquiao from overworking and overdoing things.

“I have to slow him down,” said Roach who presided yet another workout at the Shape Up Gym in Baguio City where the Filipino icon is in the thick of training for his Nov. 14 match with Miguel Cotto.

Mediamen, however, were kept away from the gym yesterday. But Mike Koncz, the boxer’s adviser, said the doors will re-open on Oct. 1 when Bob Arum of Top Rank arrives for a three-day visit.

Roach said he lives a life of “negotiations” with Pacquiao in training. When he says it’s done for the day the 30-year-old boxer would always ask for more, probably an extra round or two with the mitts or in sparring.

“I have to pull him back because I want him to stay hungry in training,” Roach would often say. But most of the time, he gives in to the boxer’s request, and this training camp is no different that the previous ones.


Pacquiao blew into town last Sunday while Roach, along with conditioning coach Alex Ariza and Rob Peters, who normally handles the security at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, came in the other day.

“Maybe he wants to impress me,” said Roach, and by the three-time Trainer of the Year’s words, the reigning pound-for-pound champion is doing a very good job.

Barely in his fifth day at the gym, Pacquiao has shown tremendous speed like he’s been training for a month now. The first two days of workout were held at the Wild Card in Parañaque last week.

“Manny is very sharp,” Roach observed.

“He showed me his speed, his footwork. As if he has been training for a month. I’ve never seen a fighter this fast,” said Roach who even said Pacquiao “can fight on Saturday.”

The inner circle of Team Pacquiao held a brain-storming Tuesday evening, mapping out the fightplan for what could be the Filipino’s toughest fight. They plan to train in Baguio for five weeks before flying to the US.

“We are not worried,” said Roach. “We will make sure that Cotto cannot use his weight to his advantage.”

Pacquiao knows the kind of fight he’s getting into, and is not leaving any stone unturned in training.

“Malakas si Cotto (He’s strong),” he said. – With report from Artemio Dumlao