Freddie Roach downplays fears of a rough camp for Pacquiao

October 29, Oakland Boxing Examiner, Ramon Aranda, Examiner.com

Despite all of the issues that have sprung up during Manny Pacquiao's training camp as he prepares for Miguel Cotto, trainer Freddie Roach assures us that everything is just fine. During a conference call this week, Roach addressed the media about camp and reiterated that the first four weeks went extremely well.

It seems most people have been concentrating on the problems revolving around adviser Michael Koncz and Roach's desire to train elsewhere, as was highlighted by last week's 24/7 episode. Although there seemed to be a little headbutting towards the end, Roach says things have been great as Pacquiao has looked good at the Wild Card Gym.

"We had really good sparring [in Baguio] then we went back to Manila and it was intense because we had quite a few distractions so we had to break camp early," said Roach. " Now we are back at the Wild Card and Manny boxed great yesterday and had ten good rounds and he's about 95% there right now and we are ready to go."

While Miguel Cotto no doubt presents a major challenge, Roach isn't quite sure the WBO champ is necessarily the biggest one of Manny's career.

"We have fought some great fighters like Morales, Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya," proclaimed Roach. "He's a very good fighter and he is champion of the world. Manny is moving up a weight class but we fought Oscar at this weight. I am very confident in my guy and we are 100% ready for the fight. I feel like Manny, with the power he is punching with right now at this weight I feel that he is going to knock Cotto out. I look forward to the win."

Though Marquez and Morales were big challenges in their own right, Cotto is clearly the physically biggest one of his career, despite having beaten Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight. From the start, Roach has been predicting a decision win for Pacquiao as to not sell Cotto short but has slowly begun to think it's quite possible that Manny can pick up a knockout.

Let's not forget that when Pacquiao signed to fight De La Hoya, we all thought it was suicide but alas, Pacquiao got the job done. Slightly favored over Cotto now, we can't count out the possibility that Pacquiao's speed and power can prove to be too much for Cotto.

When pressed about Roach's feelings that a knockout is a possibility, Pacquiao was quick to play it down.

"That is my coach's prediction, but for me I have to focus on the fight and don't think anything about that but if it comes it is a bonus," exclaimed Pacquiao. "I always believe in my power but if I am lucky to hit a good punch against my opponent and knock him out that will make me happy too. "

If Pacquiao has been lucky with his punches, then maybe we should play the lottery together.

(This article is originally posted at Examiner.com)

*************************************************

Custom Search

(Source: YouTube.com)

Pacquiao to KO Cotto in later rounds: Koncz

by Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA – Canadian adviser Mike Koncz has joined American trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza in declaring that Manny Pacquiao will certainly knockout WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in the “Firepower” bout on November 14 in Las Vegas.

Koncz, however, thinks the KO will not come soon in the fight, contrary to what Roach has predicted.

“I believe it will happen but I don’t believe it will happen as quickly as in the [Ricky] Hatton fight,” Koncz told abs-cbnNEWS.com last week.

Pacquiao became the IBO/Ring Magazine light welterweight champion in May after stunning Britain’s Hatton with a 2nd round KO in the “Battle of the East and West.”

Roach told PhilBoxing.com that Pacquiao would KO Cotto in Round 1 if the Puerto Rican “doesn’t run.” Ariza, meantime, said the Filipino boxing superstar can KO Cotto “if he lands a shot” because of the immense power of Pacquiao’s punch.

“You know Cotto's a fighter in his prime. He's one of the best body punchers in the business, very strong,” Koncz said of the WBO welterweight champ.

“Certainly I believe Manny will prevail in the fight because his foot speed and his hand speed are just gonna be too much for Cotto,” he continued.

“But the knockout, I think so but I don’t think so [it will happen] until the later rounds.”

Pacquiao went to the United States Saturday night to wrap up his training there. Koncz said the pound-for-pound king will train in Los Angeles, California for two weeks.

Team Pacquiao will proceed to Las Vegas, Nevada on the Sunday before the fight to continue training.

A “very hectic schedule” awaits Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Koncz noted, as he is set to fulfill “contractual obligations” such as promoting the bout. – Report by Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com

(Original story is posted here: Pacquiao to KO Cotto in later rounds: Koncz, abs-cbnNEWS.com)

*************************************************



Watch Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7 Episode 1 CLICK HERE

Heeeeeeeee's back! Pacquiao back in Los Angeles today!

October 24, Mississippi Fight Sports Examiner, Brad Cooney, Examiner.com

The Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, CA is about to shift gears and turn from boxing mode to Pacquiao mode. There is a difference. The pound for pound king is set to land in a few hours from the Philippines and is set to finish up the final leg of training camp. Freddie Roach will be back in the comforts of his gym, and will have all of his soldiers at his finger tips.

It was important to Freddie to get Manny back into Los Angeles in time so that he can adjust to the time difference. Pacquiao will rest for a day, then get right into the thick of things at Wild Card Gym. The atmosphere is about to change. It always does when Manny gets into town. The Tai Restaurant down the stairs and to the left will once again be filled to capacity each and every day. Manny will be sought out by the boxing scribes that will no doubt surround the gym with each day. There will be no Michael Moorer and I am guessing Mr Koncz will be behaving himself as well. Time will tell on that one.

This fight is getting closer and closer with each passing day. Yes indeed, the pound for pound king has returned. So let us see how the final leg of a grueling training camp will turn out. All reports out of the Philippines, even with the distractions say Manny still had a good camp. The final stretch should be even better, and he should be ready to go by November 14th.

*******************************************

Custom Search

Video: Michael Koncz gets booed during Cotto-Pacquaio press conference

By BoxingNewsWorld.blogspot.com

Just how disliked Michael Koncz is by Manny Pacquiao's fans, check this out:

Manny Pacquiao go-fer Koncz: 'Like Hitler without charm, brains'

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

PART FOUR

BOMBS OVER BAGUIO – MANNY PACQUIAO EXPLODES

There seems to be no end to people connected to Manny Pacquiao who complain about the machinations of furtive Canadian agent Michael Koncz.

Koncz tossed gasoline on the already burning fued between himself and Pacman trainer Coach Freddie Roach when he uttered the famous line, “Roach is just the trainer.” READ MORE

********************************************

Michael Koncz

(Image Source: http://myboxingfans.com/2009/09/manny-pacquiao-defends-koncz/)

Manny Pacquiao shoots hoops as entourage plays punch out

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

PART 3

EXCLUSIVE REPORT: BOMBS OVER BAGUIO AS PACQUIAO EXPLODES IN FIGHT

His strength, conditioning and nutrition guru Alex Ariza just jumped on his agent and go-fer Michael Koncz.

Manny Pacquiao’s beefy bodyguards had to pull an enraged Ariza off the older man in the living room of the boxer’s palatial suite at the Cooyesan Hotel in Baguio.

Ariza rained punches in the Canadian’s grill when Koncz told Coach Alex ”it’s none of your fugging business” in reply to a question about why the backstabbing and occasionally frontstabbing agent was trying to persuade Megamanny to put him in his corner on fight night and remove the Freddie Roach assistant. READ MORE

*********************************************

Manor Hotel Baguio

(Image Source: http://www.etravelpilipinas.com/tourism_news/baguio-city-philippines-camp-john-hay-manor-hotel.htm)

(Correction: Cooyeesan Hotel)

Isolated: No room at Manny Pacquiao inn for Freddie Roach

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

PART 2—EXCLUSIVE REPORT—BOMBS OVER BAGUIO

When Manny Pacquiao’s widely revered Coach Freddie Roach got to the Pinyo Idol’s training camp in Baguio, his archrival Michael Koncz had a little surprise for him.

Most of the Pacman crew, including the fighter himself, were checked into the Cooyesan Hotel.

But, according to Pacman strength and conditioning guru Alex Ariza, there was no room at the inn for Roach.

Instead of bugging out and possibly upsetting the boxer, Roach accepted accommodations at the Manor Hotel. READ MORE

************************************************

Baguio City view

(Correction: Cooyeesan Hotel)

Manny Pacquiao Coach Alex Ariza: Why I punched out Michael Koncz

By Michael Marley, Examiner

EXCLSUIVE INTERVIEW, PART ONE

He couldn’t run and he couldn’t hide.

So, when Manny Pacquiao strength and conditioning guru Alex Ariza finally exploded in the “Collision at Cooyesan (Hotel)” in Baguio, the controversial Canadian showed his true colors. READ MORE


******************************************

Alex Ariza

(Image Source: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12183_5032515,00.html)

(Correction: Cooyeesan Hotel Plaza)