“What’s up with Manny and his renewed zeal for religion?” inquired Big Steve as we embarked on the uphill climb towards Hollywood Sign:” Is he going to be able to combine bible studies with fighting?”
I asked legendary Coach, Freddie Roach what he knows about this development on Tuesday immediately following the LA press conference that announced June 9th Pacquiao showdown with Timothy Bradley.
“I am going to be on a plane with him tonight,” said Roach:” We’ll talk about what he is up to. He’s always had god in his life, so I don’t see anything unusually different. He has given up a lot of vices, I’ve been told, between cock fighting and drinking. He’s given up a lot of vices. It’s positive for Manny Pacquiao. It’s all good things. I think it’ll make him more disciplined and more focused. That’s what I am looking for. He has always thanked God. God has always been on his side. He thanks him for every win. I don’t see why that would change.”
Covering Pacquiao fight with Antonio Margarito in 2010 I ended up covering Saturday morning mass that took place in the Ballroom at the Gaylord Texan Hotel; Grand ballroom ,packed to capacity with fans and parishioners who prayed for their hero, Manny Pacquiao the morning of the fight.
Religion aside, what about those retirement rumors?
“Let’s get Mayweather out of the way and then be done with it,” said Coach Roach smiling:” So, we’ll keep fighting until were like fifty and until Mayweather comes to the table.”
Yet once again fans are going to see their idol, Manny Pacman Pacquiao fight an opponent whose name is not Floyd Mayweather. Instead of participating in the most lucrative event of boxing ever, Manny will have to fight little known Tim Bradley; high risk, low reward affair. How does he deal with such disappointment? How does he motivate himself for this one?
“It is a little bit of a let down,” confirmed Roach;” But we are fighting a guy who is 28-0 who’s never been beat. He is very strong, very physical and he is a tough guy. So, when you fight undefeated guys like that, they come to win and usually guys fight way over their head when they are fighting for world titles. I don’t think we’ll have any trouble getting motivated for this one. Mann doesn’t take anyone lightly.”
Promoter, Bob Arum has publicly invited American media to Manny Pacquiao’s training camp in Baguio, Philippines.
“I got my calendar. We are getting on the plane tonight. We’ll go over the schedule,” continued Roach:” Baguio will be two to three weeks and then five weeks in LA and one week in Vegas.”
Pacman confirmed that he wanted to have a ten week training camp to get ready for Bradley and expressed concerns about Bradley propensity for head butts. I asked five time recipient of the trainer of the year award about his concerns facing Timothy Bradley.
“He is undefeated,” replied Roach:” He doesn’t know how to lose and I think it’s a big plus in his corner. He is very aggressive. He comes to fight. He is very physical. I wouldn’t call him a dirty fighter because it’s a fight, but he is a very physical fighter. Last time Manny fought a physical guy like that was Agapito Sanchez.” Manny fought Agapito Sanchez over ten years ago when he was campaigning as a super bantamweight. It was an ugly fight that ended in the sixth round with a technical draw due to a bad cut on Manny’s right eye. Sanchez had two points deducted for low blow, but he was giving Manny all kinds of problems.
“He gave us problems,” continued Roach:” because he kept hitting us low and elbows and so forth. Manny doesn’t handle when people foul him that well. He won’t foul them back like I ask him to do. So I said if some one hits you low, hit him back a little bit. Manny is not that type of guy. So if he head butts him, I say head butt him back, but he won’t do that. I am worried about head butts and the physical part of the fight, but that’s why we need a good, strong referee to be in there to make sure everything stays fair.”
Recently Floyd Mayweather quoted Muhammad Ali on his twitter page:” He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
Manny Pacquiao is taking a risk facing undefeated Bradley. Would Mayweather ever use Ali's quote as a motivation to face Pacquiao?
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