Manny focuses on footwork; Roach unhappy over sparring

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is shifting his focus on footwork as training for the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight enters its fourth week in Los Angeles.

“Bilis ng paa (Foot speed),” said Pacquiao on GMA News as he capped his sparring session the other day.

“That’s our focus this coming two weeks,” he said.

Pacquiao, stepping up his training for the May 2 fight, sparred nine rounds against different partners.

But it was difficult to paint a rosy picture because according to GMA News, Freddie Roach did not like how the sparring went.

Though sparring was held behind closed doors, the report said Roach was not a very happy man when he opened the doors to the media.

“I was just a little frustrated because I mean why with me it’s okay but when he gets in there with somebody else he completely changes,” he said.

Roach was looking for more from Pacquiao in sparring and he didn’t find it.

The report said Roach climbed the ring to show Pacquiao, and whoever he was sparring with at the time, how it’s supposed to be done.

“I’m not gonna be nice to him. I’m gonna make him do what I want because that’s the way he can beat Mayweather,” said Roach.

“I don’t usually yell at him. I have a lot of respect for him but the thing is I just want him to know how important this is,” he added.

Pacquiao was his happy self as he stepped out of the gym amid cheers from his fans.