MANILA — The world's best boxing trainer wants Manny Pacquiao to start aggressively when he battles Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 for the latter’s WBO welterweight belt.
Roach told writers at the SCOOP Forum at the Kamayan Restaurant yesterday that, “Manny needs to start aggressive, strong and fast so that he'll make Cotto remember the beating he got from Antonio Margarito.”
Cotto is a notoriously slow starter and Roach said that there is a window of opportunity in the early minutes to catch him cold. They have prepared for two different Cottos – the boxer and the puncher. But Roach feels Cotto cannot counter like Juan Manuel Marquez and change styles in six weeks. “If he gets hit, he'll fight.”
Roach also said that he has forbiden Pacquiao from playing basketball. “Four weeks before the fight...No basketball,” Roach said.
Team Pacquiao will leave for the US on Saturday and Roach believes it will take 10 days for Pacquiao to adjust to the jet lag. He will be getting two new sparring partners in Los Angeles – Rey Beltran and Rey Serrano. Roach said that Pacquiao has a tendency not to beat up his sparmates once he gets too familiar with them and he gets bored.
Pacquiao is now at 146.5 lbs. and has to drink protein shakes which he hates to keep his weight up. When asked if Pacquiao will sue Floyd Mayweather, Sr because of his statements accusing Manny of steroid use, Roach replied, “We'll let it slide. Who listens to them anyway?” correspondent Rene Bonsubre
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Cotto against Margarito
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