By Chris Williams: Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza and trainer Freddie Roach are trying to extract more aggression from Manny Pacquiao so that he can beat Juan Manuel Marquez by a knockout or at the minimum a decision that can’t be questioned by boxing fans.

It’s pretty pointless really, because the whole idea behind trying to get Pacquiao to be more aggressive really revolves around getting Pacquiao to a more youthful stage in his career when he was able to move well around the ring, throw a lot of punches, and fight with a great deal of intensity. Pacquiao isn’t doing those things anymore. When Pacquiao does fight hard, he gets leg cramps, he tires out, and then he takes punishment.

Look at Pacquiao’s last fight. He was beaten by Tim Bradley in a fight where Pacquiao’s stamina – or lack thereof – was badly exposed in the 2nd half of the fight. While Pacquiao and his loyal fans complained bitterly about the decision, it was clear that the judges selected Bradley as the winner because he worked harder than Pacquiao.

Now we’ve got Ariza and Roach going into this fight like scientists trying to re-animate the Pacquiao that has deteriorated by making him work harder in training camp and giving him plenty of positive reinforcement. I’m sorry but that’s not enough.

When the stamina and fast twitch reflexes start to go, you can work a fighter as much as you want and give praise 24/7, and it’s still not going to bring back what they were in their early youth. It’s not possible. Asking Pacquiao to be aggressive is really asking Pacquiao to be young again, and that’s not possible and I’m surprised that Ariza and Roach aren’t quick enough to realize that. When you got an old fighter you don’t work him beyond his physical means. You instead try to teach them to work around their physical limitations.