By Chris Williams: Trainer Freddie Roach doesn’t think Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO’s) is looking all that bad in training, saying in an article at Philstar.com, “We [Pacquiao] need a little more focus, but I think overall we’re doing okay.” I like how Roach always includes himself when talking about what Pacquiao is doing. If Roach isn’t right, he’s going to have egg on his face if Pacquiao gets taken out and brutalized by the bigger, stronger Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KO’s) next month. Roach is still talking as if this is going to be an easy fight for Pacquiao and is predicting an 8th round knockout.

Roach has stubbornly stuck with that prediction for some time, even with reports of Margarito looking better and better in training. You would think that Roach might make some adjustments by a round or two or maybe forget all about a knockout and just hope Pacquiao can win the fight by decision without getting battered senseless by the hulking Margarito. But Roach is staying the course, and sticking with his prediction no matter what new information is coming in. Roach told Abs-cbnnews.com “I really believe it will be the right [hand from Pacquiao that ends the fight]. It is so strong.”

Pacquiao may have problems landing his right hands cleanly without getting hit a lot. If Roach is smart, he’ll have Pacquiao focus on moving more to avoid getting trapped in a dog fight with Margarito. I think Pacquiao is much too small to beat Margarito in a sustained attack in a small area. Although Pacquiao has bulked up about as much as he can, he doesn’t have the natural frame of a junior middleweight and probably doesn’t have anywhere near the same power. He may fall apart from the shots that Margarito will be bombing him with. You have to remember, Pacquiao hasn’t really been hit all that much by his last four opponents and this will likely be the first fight in which he gets hit repeatedly.