Roach: “We’ll [Pacquiao] catch him [Mayweather] early”

By Manuel Perez: It looks as if trainer Freddie Roach is still talking the “we” language when referring to Manny Pacquiao’s battles. In an article with Philstar, Roach said “And I have the keys to break down Mayweather, even in the earlier rounds. Mayweather will have no more excuses. We’ll catch him early, if not it’s going to be Pacquiao by unanimous decision.”

So the plan of attack for Pacquiao is to rush Mayweather on March 13th. I fail to see how that is any different from what Pacquiao has been doing in the past. That’s like saying tomorrow morning the sun will come up.

Of course, Pacquiao is going to pressure Mayweather. That’s what Manny always does. I like the way that Roach tries to make things sound to complicated and strategic. Come on, Pacquiao fights the same way every time. He comes right at his opponents throwing his right hook, straight left hand and putting on a lot of pressure against whomever he’s facing. If Pacquiao was facing Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto or a weight drained and old Oscar De La Hoya, then I would agree with Roach in his prediction about “catching him early.” But that’s not happening with Mayweather.

You got to have more going for you then just one style, and one pace to beat a talented fighter like him. This is going to be an easy fight for Mayweather. Juan Manuel Marquez already showed how to beat Pacquiao in their two fights by countering him, and taking advantages of Pacquiao’s attacks. If the smaller Marquez can do this to Pacquiao, what do you think that Mayweather will do to him?

Roach had more to say on the Mayweather subject: “Pacquiao will strike on at unexpected angles that Mayweather will become frozen from taking too many shots.” I bet. That sounds like a pep talk that some football coach is giving to a group of beleaguered 1-10 high school football players. I can’t picture Pacquiao hitting anything from unexpected angles other than a lot of hot air all night long, and the only thing that I can see becoming frozen is Pacquiao’s fists when he sees that he can’t hit Mayweather.

Okay, we’ve seen how Roach thinks this fight will occur, now let me tell you how I think this fight will take place. Mayweather will dance around the ring, plastering Pacquiao’s face with fast jabs and hard combinations, and rarely getting hit in return. Pacquiao will stay patient for awhile, but by the 5th round, Pacquiao will begin to lose his icy cool and start getting flustered by how badly he’s losing the fight.

Mayweather will start ripping Pacquiao’s face apart with each successive round, causing blood to drip all over the canvas and Pacquiao’s trunks, turning them both a bright red.

At some point, probably by the 7th or 8th, the ringside doctor will tap Roach on the shoulder and give him the grim news, that the fight should be stopped to save Pacquiao from taking anymore needless punishment. Roach will plead with the doctor, asking him to give Pacquiao a second chance. The doctor will shake his head and give the referee the call to end the slaughter. That’s how I predict the fight will end.