Roach owes Pacquiao $1,000 after KO

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao gave Freddie Roach a perfect Thanksgiving present that came in the form of a knockdown.

The Filipino boxing superstar, who’s gearing up for a Dec. 8 clash with Juan Manuel Marquez, floored his sparring partner during a Thanksgiving Day workout at the Wild Card Gym.

Pacquiao reportedly caught his sparring partner, a young welterweight named Benjie Gomez, with a powerful left straight, sending him down.

A photo of the knockdown, provided by MP Promotions, was posted on www.spin.ph yesterday even if the boxer himself had wanted to keep it under wraps.

“Huwag na lang natin pakita. Baka sabihin nagyayabang pa tayo (Let’s just not show it and appear like we’re bragging),” sportscaster Chino Trinidad quoted Pacquiao as saying.

Still, it went online, and sent the message across.

Just the other day, Marquez held a media workout at the Romanza Gym in Mexico City, and photos of the ripped Mexican boxer were sent out by his handlers from Zanfer Promotions.

It was the turn of Pacquiao’s camp to show that there’s something happening inside the famous Hollywood sweatshop.

Roach must be glad with what happened even if it may have cost him $1,000.

A couple of weeks ago, Roach said he was offering Pacquiao the amount if he manages to knock any of his sparring partners down or out.

“This camp I will pull a switch. I will offer Manny $1,000 out of my own pocket every time he knocks a spar-mate on his a**,” Roach said of his offer.

After the Thanksgiving knockdown, the five-time Trainer of the Year said it was the best gift he could get.

“It’s a good sign. We haven’t seen that in a while,” said Roach, who left his gym minus a thousand bucks on his pocket.