Freddie Roach didn’t waste his time laying out his plan for the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight on May 2 in Las Vegas.
“Knockout,” he told The STAR which caught today’s hottest trainer by phone yesterday noon (Friday evening in Los Angeles).
Roach said that like everybody else, he felt great that the fight, after all the negotiations and some useless debates, is pushing through.
“It’s great. Of course,” Roach said as he walked back to his apartment after closing the doors to his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
It’s time to do the homework.
“We’ll open up training camp on March 1. We’ll get ready, be in shape and take care of this guy,” said Roach.
And probably fight Antonio Margarito later on.
Roach still hasn’t talked to Pacquiao despite persistent attempts on his part. Over the last two weeks he’s been trying.
“Manny hasn’t talked to me yet. I wanted him to know I’m on his side, not like some crooks,” he said without elaborating.
The Pacquiao-Hatton fight, which could be the biggest this year, almost didn’t push through due to disputes on the purse.
Now there’s a deal, and Pacquiao stands to earn as much as $20 million or close to a billion pesos. Hatton will get just a little less.
“Manny had a problem with one thing in the deal but we worked it out,” Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “I massaged something in the deal, which I’m not going to tell you about, but it didn’t cost me anything. We got it done.”
Insiders say that “massage” was worth at least $1 million, giving Pacquiao a guaranteed purse of $13 million and a 52-48 share of everything else.
Roach said the impasse was all part of the game.
“You negotiate first and that’s how it is. It only becomes a deal when everybody is happy,” said Roach.
Pacquiao has won his last nine fights, including great ones against Oscar dela Hoya, David Diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.
“And Hatton is the best fight for him right now,” said Roach, who sees Pacquiao catching Hatton in the later rounds..
“Nine is my favorite number,” he said, hinting of a stoppage inside nine rounds.
“Hatton is made for Manny. He’s a tough guy who comes forward. He’s a game guy looking to mug you. That’s the perfect style for Manny,” Roach told The Sweet Science.
“You don’t have to chase Hatton. You don’t have to look for Ricky. You know where he’s going to be. He’s right there in front of you, which is what Manny likes. He likes a guy who wants to try and make it a fight.’’
“Knockout,” he told The STAR which caught today’s hottest trainer by phone yesterday noon (Friday evening in Los Angeles).
Roach said that like everybody else, he felt great that the fight, after all the negotiations and some useless debates, is pushing through.
“It’s great. Of course,” Roach said as he walked back to his apartment after closing the doors to his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
It’s time to do the homework.
“We’ll open up training camp on March 1. We’ll get ready, be in shape and take care of this guy,” said Roach.
And probably fight Antonio Margarito later on.
Roach still hasn’t talked to Pacquiao despite persistent attempts on his part. Over the last two weeks he’s been trying.
“Manny hasn’t talked to me yet. I wanted him to know I’m on his side, not like some crooks,” he said without elaborating.
The Pacquiao-Hatton fight, which could be the biggest this year, almost didn’t push through due to disputes on the purse.
Now there’s a deal, and Pacquiao stands to earn as much as $20 million or close to a billion pesos. Hatton will get just a little less.
“Manny had a problem with one thing in the deal but we worked it out,” Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “I massaged something in the deal, which I’m not going to tell you about, but it didn’t cost me anything. We got it done.”
Insiders say that “massage” was worth at least $1 million, giving Pacquiao a guaranteed purse of $13 million and a 52-48 share of everything else.
Roach said the impasse was all part of the game.
“You negotiate first and that’s how it is. It only becomes a deal when everybody is happy,” said Roach.
Pacquiao has won his last nine fights, including great ones against Oscar dela Hoya, David Diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.
“And Hatton is the best fight for him right now,” said Roach, who sees Pacquiao catching Hatton in the later rounds..
“Nine is my favorite number,” he said, hinting of a stoppage inside nine rounds.
“Hatton is made for Manny. He’s a tough guy who comes forward. He’s a game guy looking to mug you. That’s the perfect style for Manny,” Roach told The Sweet Science.
“You don’t have to chase Hatton. You don’t have to look for Ricky. You know where he’s going to be. He’s right there in front of you, which is what Manny likes. He likes a guy who wants to try and make it a fight.’’
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