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Tale of the tape? Roach wary of foes' illegal tactics


MANILA, Philippines - Oscar de la Hoya won't have any more advantages besides his size and his ring experience. Freddie Roach will make sure of that. Roach, Manny Pacquiao's trainer extraordinnaire, said on Friday that he will personally scrutinize even the minutest detail about the December 7 (December 6, US time) showdown. One such issue that has been brought up is the correct way of taping boxers' hands. "Between the knuckles, they use what are called fake ligaments. They make (the tape) like a rope and then put it between the fingers," Roach described one technique. "It's actually in the rules that say one strip per tape only, so I think I will win that case." Roach said he will bring up the issue to the regulations body Nevada State Athletic Commission because of the possibility that Joe Chavez, a former Pacquiao cutman who now works de la Hoya's side, might consider using that method. "Anything I can do to throw off Oscar I wanna do," Roach added. "That's my job. It's not personal. I just wanna be fair. The rules are rules and that's where we wanna go." Roach also cited previous instances when he questioned before the Nevada commission attempts by other boxing camps to do similar tricks, mentioning the cases of Marco Antonio Barrera in his rematch with Pacquiao in 2007 and of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his fight with de la Hoya also last year. "I know the rules and I'm just expecting to be upheld and that's all I ask because we wrap fair," Roach told reporters at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. Roach said he will discuss the rules with the commission on Tuesday, or a day after Team Pacquiao arrives at Las Vegas. "We'll go over what's allowed and what's not and then go from there." After being slowed down in training by acid reflux on Thanksgiving Day, Pacquiao was in the mood again Friday when he did his usual two-hour training at the Wild Card. At one point, he accidentally hit Roach on the chin. He also staggered his trainer with several crunching body shots. "That (body) protection (gear) does help me. I'm glad I have it," Roach said smiling. It was a fairly good day of training for Pacquiao, Roach opined, with two more sparring session left scheduled for Saturday (six rounds) and Monday (four rounds). "He's on fire. He's excited. He's punching hard, his speed looks good and I'm very happy," Roach said. - GMANews.TV

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