Roach says Larios can’t be taken lightly

Manny Pacquiao has to be in the best shape of his life, like he was in stopping Erik Morales, to beat Oscar Larios in their 12-round World Boxing Council (WBC) International superfeatherweight title bout at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2.

That’s the message from trainer Freddie Roach who blew into town from Los Angeles early yesterday morning and was visibly disturbed by reports that Pacquiao is considering not leaving for the US next week to open training camp at the Wild Card Gym.

Roach was set to discuss the training schedule with Pacquiao late last night.

"We’re at odds right now although I haven’t talked to Manny," said Roach. "I understand Manny wants to train two months in the Philippines and is thinking of not going to the US. But he’s got to realize as the promoter, he has the responsibility of promoting the fight in the US for the pay-per-view market. And I’d like him to start training in Los Angeles where I’ve lined up some good sparmates, two of whom fight just like Larios."

Roach said he can’t think of a good reason why Pacquiao wouldn’t fly to Las Vegas to appear in a press conference with Larios on the weekend that Oscar de la Hoya fights Ricardo Mayorga on May 6.

"Manny can’t afford for this promotion to flop," said Roach. "It’s a great opportunity to promote the fight with de la Hoya in Vegas. As for opening camp in L.A., I want him to focus at the start because there are just too many distractions in the Philippines. We can continue training in the Philippines in June but I’d like to start in L.A."

Roach admitted he wouldn’t be able to spend two consecutive months in the country because of other commitments to fighters like Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista and Z Gorres who are seeing action in the US next month.

"Manny shouldn’t listen to people who tell him Larios is an easy opponent because he lost his last fight by technical knockout to my boy Israel Vazquez whom Manny spars with," said Roach. "The win was a fluke because the fight was stopped on a cut which

Roach said Pacquiao still has a lot of room for improvement as a fighter and will become even better. Developing the right hook to defeat Morales was a key, continued Roach, and it made Pacquiao a frightening two-fisted fighter instead of just relying on his powerful left straight.

Roach said he expects Larios to box Pacquiao in the early rounds even as he’s known to start strong like when he knocked out Willie Jorrin in the first round to wrest the WBC superbantamweight title in Sacramento four years ago. Roach was in Jorrin’s corner for the fight.

"We’ll be prepared for anything," said Roach. "We know Larios can be dangerous early or late in the fight. He stopped Jorrin in the first and Vazquez in the 11th in their second fight. He’s an experienced fighter and that’s something you can’t take lightly."

Larios, 29, has logged 15 more fights than Pacquiao, 27, although he turned pro only a year before the Filipino in 1994. Larios" record is 56-4-1, with 36 KOs, while Pacquiao’s record is 41-3-2, with 32 KOs.