Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach wants ?Fighter of the Decade? and eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao to win by a knockout when he battles WBO light welterweight champion Chris Algieri in a 144 pound catch-weight bout for Pacquiao?s WBO welterweight title in Macau on Sunday, November 23, Manila Time.
Roach said he wants to ?shut the mouths? of Floyd Mayweather Jr and his father/trainer Floyd Sr who continue to insinuate that Pacquiao?s run of dominating KO victories was because of something he was taking during training and question why he had no knockouts after strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza left his camp and later hooked up with Mayweather.
He told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports he "hopes for a knockout" because he wants to silence the Mayweathers "for sure."
Pacquiao?s last stoppage was a classic 12th round TKO victory over Miguel Cotto on November 14, 2009. Cotto went the distance with Mayweather and gave him all he could handle on May 5, 2012.
What the Mayweather?s conveniently forget is that Floyd?s last knockout was in September 17, 2009 when he dropped Victor Ortiz in the 4th round with what was condemned as a sneaky, cheap shot when Ortiz was apologizing to Mayweather for an earlier infraction and had his hands down.
Mayweather?s last legitimate knockout was on December 8, 2007 against Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton who lasted 10 rounds with Floyd but was annihilated by Pacquiao in the 2nd round on May 2, 2009.
Roach told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports that while there was a delay in training because of the promotional trip to Hong Kong although they did workout, he said Pacquiao is ?doing very well and in good shape.?
He said Pacquiao ?may have broken the nose? of undefeated No. 1 junior welterweight Viktor Postol during sparring last Saturday and that he had ?hurt Mike Jones a couple of times.?
Postol is a tall, strong Ukraine fighter while Jones who some years ago was being mentioned as a possible opponent for Pacquiao is a tough welterweight.
Roach has even claimed that Postol who is a very good boxer could beat Algieri right now.
Roach also told us that lightweight Stan ?The Man? Martyniouk ?gives us what we need because he moves well.?
Pacquiao?s adviser Michael Koncz said ?Manny looks good. He is well prepared and totally focused? even as he shared the hope of Roach that Pacquiao will be able to win by knockout.
Koncz said the reception Pacquiao received everywhere he went during his Hong Kong trip was ?unbelievable and a tremendous experience? as he was mobbed by supporters, most of them Filipinos who live and work in Hong Kong.
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