Matagal nang ready si Roach

MANILA, Philippines - Sapul nang mabuksan ang posibilidad ng paghaharap nina Manny Pacquiao at Floyd Mayweather, Jr. ay gumawa na si chief trainer Freddie Roach ng estratehiya para talunin ang American fighter.

“I have a good game plan for Manny, and I’ve altered the game plan some over the last five to six years since this fight has been something everyone wanted to see,” sabi ni Roach sa panayam ng ESPN.com.

“I’ve made adjustments to it since both guys are a little older. I’m watching tape on their last two fights each,” dagdag pa ng seven-time Trainer of the Year awardee.

Halos limang taon nang pinipilit maitakda ang laban nina Pacquiao at Mayweather.

At kamakailan lamang ito pormal na naplantsa nang pumirma ng kanilang mga fight contract ang 36-anyos na si Pacquiao at ang 38-anyos na si Mayweather para sa kanilang super fight sa Mayo 2 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

“They’re not the same as they were five years ago, but it’s a winnable fight for us if we fight the right fight,” ani Roach. “This is the biggest fight of my life. There’s a lot of pressure, but I’m not going to be nervous. Pressure is good. I want to perform, and I want my fighter to do the best he can.”

Sa Marso 2 ay inaasahan na ni Roach ang pagdating ni Pacquiao sa kanyang Wild Card Boxing Club sa Hollywood, California para simulan ang kanyang pagsasanay.

Sinabi ni Roach na mas makakabuti kung maaga nilang bubuksan ni Pacquiao ang kanilang training camp.

Si strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune ang unang hahawak kay Pacquiao bago simulan ang kanilang sparring session ni Roach.

“Having him early is really nice for me. We’ll have Justin Fortune doing strength work with him, and then we’ll begin the boxing part and start sparring,” wika ng chief trainer.

Sinimulan na ng Filipino world eight-division champion ang kanyang pagpapakondisyon sa Gen-San.

Hindi makakasama ni Pacquiao si Roach sa unang mga araw ng kanilang training camp dahil magtutungo ang trainer sa Macau, China sa Biyernes para sa laban ni two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming (6-0, 1 KO) kay Amnat Ruenroeng (14-0, 5 KOs) ng Thailand sa Marso 7 sa Cotai Arena.

Dahil dito ay si Filipino assistant trainer Marvin Somodio ang pansamantalang gagabay sa pagsasanay ni Pacquiao sa Wild Card Gym.

“Manny told me I should be with Zou because he knows how important this fight is for him,” ani Roach. “The thing is, Manny is that type of guy. He cares about other people. He knows Shiming has a better chance to win if I’m there with him.”

Matapos ng laban ni Shiming ay kaagad babalik si Roach sa Wild Card para tutukan ang preparasyon ni Pacquiao.