Roach: Pacquiao now 90 percent ready vs Cotto

After a month of training in the Philippines, trainer Freddie Roach is convinced that he’s going to fly back to the U.S. together with a 90 percent fit Manny Pacquiao.

Roach, Pacquiao, conditioning coach Alex Ariza and the rest of the group depart for the U.S. Saturday night to resume the Filipino boxing champion’s training at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

“Manny is now 90 percent ready," said Roach during the SCOOP sa Kamayan forum in Manila. “Now there is two weeks to 100 (percent) and we’ll hit that next week in L.A."

Pacquiao will train two more weeks at the City of Angels before toning down for a week in Las Vegas leading to his Nov. 14 World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title fight against Miguel Cotto.

Roach gave Pacquiao a day-off in training Friday following what he said was a rigorous roadwork the General Santos City native did in the morning at Luneta Park.

“He’s been very tired after undergoing roadwork (at the Luneta) for an hour this morning (Friday)," said Roach, who decided to give the pound-for-pound king a well-deserved rest after the Filipino failed to answer several of his trainer’s call by mid-afternoon Friday.

“I thought I have to give him a day’s off. He had a good 10-round sparring yesterday (Thursday), another good road work today (Friday), and I thought I owe it to give him his first day off."

Roach believes Pacquiao can knock Cotto out in the later rounds, reiterating a fast start for his ward to disarm the Puerto Rican in the early rounds.

He said Pacquiao also needs to carry the fight in the middle of the ring and press Cotto to tire out in case the fight goes the full route. - GMANews.TV

Source: gmanews.tv