Is Freddie Roach losing faith in Manny Pacquiao?
CEBU, Philippines - This question may crop up in one's mind after the celebrated American trainer said he feels that Pacquiao will lose to Juan Manuel Marquez if his prized ward fails to deliver a knockout over his Mexican nemesis in their highly-anticipated fourth showdown on December 8 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During their first meeting in 2004, Pacquiao knocked down Marquez three times in the first round, but the Mexican punching dynamo showed great recuperative powers to forge a draw. In their second fight in 2008, Pacquiao scraped through a split decision win in an action-packed battle Marquez thought he won.
Their third match in November last year did not put a definitive end to their epic rivalry. It even fueled the animosity between the two legendary fighters after Pacquiao earned the judges' nod by majority verdict. Marquez, more disgruntled than ever, boldly declared he was robbed of victory - for the third time.
Roach did not think Pacquiao lost the third fight although he recognizes that Marquez had done enough to fluster the Filipino sports icon.
"I've had three chances to come up with the strategy and the style to beat this guy and we haven't done well in any of them and the last one was the worst. Marquez put the muscle on and he kind of landed the power shots in that fight. And a lot of people though we lost that fight," said Roach in a report by Robert Morales of boxingscene.com.
"But I need to get Manny to get that killer instinct back. To be pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world, I think we need to knock this guy out. I don't think we'll win a decision regardless of how the fight goes," added Roach in the same internet report.
In a separate report by The Star Online, Pacquiao has vowed not to do the same mistake of underestimating Marquez.
“I underestimated him in our last fight,” said Pacquiao, who is guaranteed US$25 million for a fourth bout with "El Dinamita". “I will make the most of every training day to prepare for Juan Manuel.”
Pacquiao, whose 15-bout winning streak was snapped by Tim Bradley in a highly questionable split decision last June, sports a 54-4-2 record spiked with 38KOs, while Marquez carries a 54-6-1 slate spiced up with 39KOs. (FREEMAN)