Freddie Roach Speaks Highly of Pacquiao's Sparring Partners

Boxing trainer and coach Freddie Roach spoke highly of Manny Pacquiao's sparring partners that include Jose Luis Castillo, the former lightweight champion of the world as Team Pacquiao leaves Saturday to continue training at the Wild Card Gym in L.A.

Pacquiao's trainer and coach Freddie Roach is happy with Pacquiao's sparring partners and speaks highly of them as Team Pacquiao prepares to leave for Los Angeles, California for the last leg of the Filipino boxer's training and physical conditioning.

Among Pacquiao's sparing partners who gets special attention from Roach because of the inputs that he gives to the Filipino boxer's quest for being the first boxer to win seven titles in seven weight divisions, is Jose Luis Castillo of Mexico, himself a former light weight champion of the world who also spoke highly of Manny Pacquiao.

Castillo is convinced that nobody in the weight range where Pacquiao and Cotto are fighting is capable of beating Pacquiao based on his experience on the first few sparring sessions with the pound for pound king.

Castillo's style according to abs-cbn news:resembles Cotto’s and that’s why he was brought in to spar with Pacquiao. He turned pro in 1990 and won his first 18 outings, 13 inside three rounds. In 2000, Castillo wrested the WBC lightweight crown from Stevie Johnston on points then lost it in his fourth defense to Mayweather in a close encounter in April 2002. Castillo was decisioned by Mayweather in a rematch eight months later but regained the vacant WBC title on a 12-round verdict over Juan Lazcano in 2004. Castillo then repulsed challengers Joel Casamayor and Julio Diaz before yielding the throne to Diego Corrales in 2005. He knocked out Corrales in a rematch but was prevented from claiming the WBC belt because he weighed in 3 1/2 pounds over the limit.

“He’s a genuinely nice guy,” said Roach. “He’s probably doing 70 percent of what he can do. But he’s adjusting and getting more comfortable. He’s looking for a comeback to the big time. I’m willing to help him although I don’t know if I’ll be in his corner for his next fight.”

Roach said Pacquiao’s sparring partners are top-quality. Aside from Castillo, Pacquiao spars with unbeaten junior middleweight Shawn Porter. Escobar is on standby. Another spar mate Urbano Antillon of Mexico was scheduled to fly back to Los Angeles yesterday. When Pacquiao reports for work at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Roach will likely recruit fresh spar mates including British world champion Amir Khan, the report added Shawn Porter, the other senior sparring partner of Pacquiao, is another dependable sparring partner of the Filipino boxer recruited by Team Pacquiao. Porter has a 10-0 win-loss record and a 2007 Golden Gloves champion who fought around 200 amateur fights. Escobar, another member of Pacquiao sparring team is undefeated in his last three fights which he won all via first round knock out.

Source: digitaljournal.com