‘Fresher’ Pacquiao will KO Mayweather – Roach

MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach thinks Floyd Mayweather doesn’t have the legs anymore to move around the ring, predicting that Manny Pacquiao will eventually catch him and knock him out in their May 2 showdown.

Shortly after Floyd Mayweather Sr., the undefeated American’s outspoken father, declared that his son will have an easy night against Pacquiao, Roach countered by saying it will be his ward who will  come out on top

“They can have that opinion,” the bespectacled trainer told Michael Woods of ringtv.com “If I was his father, I might say that too! But I think Manny beats Floyd, breaks him down, and knocks him out before it’s over.”

Roach pointed out that the skills of Mayweather, who turned 38 Wednesday, have declined and that Pacquiao appears to be the “fresher” fighter.

“In watching Floyd’s career, he’s definitely slowed down somewhat. Manny has also some, everyone ages. But I think Manny’s legs are fresher than Floyd’s. Against [Chris] Algieri, Manny boxed really good, good rounds the whole time,” he explained.

 “When Floyd sits down and rests, Manny will catch him. Floyd is a defensive master. But he takes rests. And the only place to do it is on the ropes,” Roach added.

Pacquiao flashed his deadly form in Macau last year when he knocked down Algieri a jaw-dropping six times en route to a lopsided decision. His trainer believes the Filipino icon has what it takes to deal Mayweather the first loss of his career.

“Floyd can look at Manny, think he has pretty fast hands, punches pretty hard. But you don’t really feel it until you’re in there with him. He has devastating power, and he jumps in so suddenly. He still has the power and speed to get a KO,” Roach also said.

In the same ringtv.com report, the multi-titled trainer bared that Pacquiao will start his US training at the Wild Card Gym on March 8. The fighting congressman has started working out in his hometown in General Santos City in anticipation of the megabuck showdown with Mayweather. – Dino Maragay