By Dave Lahr: With all the bragging and predictions that trainer Freddie Roach has been making about Manny Pacquiao beating Joshua Clottey by a knockout, Roach is going to have some serious egg on his face should Pacquiao get taken out or otherwise beaten by Clottey on March 13th at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium. Roach has been saying how Clottey isn’t very good, is a flawed fighter and how Pacquiao is going to get to him in the 12th round.

And all the bragging about how Pacquiao is dominating his sparring partners. If I read another Roach article where he’s drooling over Pacquiao’s sparring against some hapless sparring partners I think I’ll scream. Who cares that Pacquiao is beating up on his sparring partners? I’d rather hear how Roach is bringing in someone that can really test Pacquiao like Alfredo Angulo, Paul Williams or Kermit Cintron. If Roach brings those guys in, Pacquiao might be picking up his teeth around the ring.

Those are the guys that Pacquiao should be sparring with, not some little guys or light punchers. That won’t happen, of course. It’s too bad because at least Pacquiao would get some good sparring before he faces Clottey.

Roach is clearly on cloud nine with Pacquiao’s wins over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. In almost every interview, Roach has this smug look on his face, as if he’s self congratulating for the success that Pacquiao has had over these guys. That will all change if Clottey ends up giving Pacquiao a beating on March 13th.

I just wonder how Roach will look if he ends up having to peel Pacquiao off the canvas if Clottey takes him out and gives him a beating. I think it might be good for Roach to eat some humble pie. He would then have to step back with his bragging and all his predictions about knockout victories and rethink that kind of bold talk. I think Roach would continue to make knockout predictions for Pacquiao even if he does take a beating against Clottey.

I think it will take at least three consecutive losses before Roach comes down to earth and starts making more reasonable predictions. But can you imagine how Roach will look if Pacquiao loses to Clottey? There would be no point in talking about Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley anymore, because Clottey would erase any talk about them for the time being. Roach would then have to put his entire focus on trying to somehow regain what was lost.