Roach to keep an eye on Pacquiao’s shoulder

MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach will be giving special attention to Manny Pacquiao’s right shoulder when he joins the Filipino icon in training in General Santos City next week.

While Pacquiao insisted that his right shoulder has already healed, Roach would like to see it himself throughout their preparation for the fight with Timothy Bradley in April.

“Me and Manny don't see each other until we start training camp. He plays basketball every day. He says the shoulder feels great through basketball. I know that's not boxing,” the trainer said in a boxingscene.com report.

In a recent check-up in Los Angeles, Pacquiao’s surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache has cleared the boxer for all physical activities. ElAttrache was the same doctor who surgically treated the torn rotator cuff Pacquiao suffered while training for Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year.

The injury bothered Pacquiao when he fought Mayweather, and Roach himself admitted still being haunted by that fight.

He believes Pacquiao would have won in boxing’s richest fight ever had he been healthy.

Now Roach wants to make sure his ward would stay healthy against Bradley.

“I'm curious to see how it is myself in the first week of training,” he said. – Dino Maragay