Freddie Roach isn't simply the man who transformed a whirling dervish of kinetic energy into a technically adept, supremely focused hitter, he's Manny Pacquiao's most ardent fan.
OK, that mat be straying over the line, considering Manny whips more than 90 million of his countrymen, women and children into a frenzy of adoration typically reserved for deities. But Dedham Freddie has done more than any one person to bring Pacquiao to where he is today--the top of the pound for pound tier, or as Floyd Mayweather fans might assert, just beneath that level.
Mayweather's mastery on Sept. 19 against Juan Manuel Marquez had some pundits re-installing the American atop the P4P platform, despite his shadily obtained weight advantage. I moved into that camp myself, and suppose disagreements will have to stand until the inevitable showdown between Pacman and Mayweather. I say inevitable because I firmly believe that Pacquiao's hand speed is two notches better than Miguel Cotto's, and that he will add to Miguel's tattoo collection with shots Cotto doesn't see coming on Nov. 14. Speed equals power equals another improbable win for Pacquiao, and the seventh title, in the seventh weight division since he turned pro in 1995. My certainty, though, seems slight in comparison to that of Roach, who on a Wednesday conference call with Manny and promoter Bob Arum, made his case for Pacman being an all-time, pound for pound great.
With the win over Cotto, who holds the WBO title, by virtue of a hair-thin decision victory in his first defense against Joshua Clottey in June, Freddie says Manny will join a select crew. I didn't get a chance to ask Coach Roach who he has installed at the top of his own P4P list, but whoever is on the short list, he says Manny should join 'em.
The win would elevate Manny, Roach said, to the "five best of all time in any era.
"He's getting better and better," Roach said of the Filipino, who he termed a "Henry Armstrong-type guy." That Hall of Famer, of course, held the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight titles at the same time, and is on everybody's all-time top 5 list. Manny's 7 at 7 feat, Freddie said, will be "one of the greatest achievements ever," and he lumped in Manny with other multi-title greats like Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.
TSS U, let's bring you all into the mix. You on board with Roach's statement? Is Cotto enough of a test for you for Manny? You're not going to indulge in something that irks Roach to no end, and tear down Miguel after Manny has his way with him, are you? READ MORE
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