MANILA, Philippines – Minaliit ni Hall of Famer Freddie Roach ang ginagawang preparasyon ni American Keith Thurman para sa unification bout nito laban kay reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) regular welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
Napanood ni Roach ang isang video ng training ni Thurman kung saan ikinumpara nito ang American fighter sa isang babaeng sumusuntok sa heavy bag.
Wala aniya itong binatbat sa mga ginaga-wang paghahanda ng eight-division world champion na si Pacquiao.
“I saw a little video where Manny was hitting the heavy bag, and Thurman was hitting the heavy bag, and it was almost like a man hitting the heavy bag and a girl hitting the heavy bag, and (Thurman) is the girl,” ani Roach sa panayam ng Bad Left Hook.
Hindi rin na-impress si Roach sa mga nakalipas na laban ni Thurman kaya’t naniniwala siyang wala itong ibubuga kay Pacquiao.
“His last three fights, you can see he’s faded. He’s lucky to win that last one. He had a very, very poor performance. I know he had an injury and he had time off, but he has no excuses for this one,” dagdag ni Roach.
Umuusok ang training camp ni Pacquiao dahil sumasailalim ito sa ma-tinding paghahanda para sa kanilang laban ni Thurman sa Hulyo 20 (Hulyo 21 sa Maynila) sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
“We boxed eight rounds yesterday and did six rounds of mitts. Today, we did 10 rounds of mitts and I put my chest protector back on just to get him to be able to throw punches like I want them thrown in the fight. Today was a great day,” ani Roach.
Ngunit hindi pa rito natatapos ang ensayo ni Pacquiao.
Inaasahang mas titindi pa ito habang papalapit ang laban.
Target ng coaching staff na maabot ang perpektong kondisyon sa loob ng dalawang linggo.
Ipinagmalaki ni strength and conditioning expert Justin Fortune na abot kamay na ni Pacquiao ang mabagsik na porma.
At sa oras na umabot ito sa 100 porsiyento, inaasahang mas gagaan na ang workout ni Pacquiao para makaiwas sa injury.