Shutting the critics: Roach grades Pacquiao 'A-plus' for work vs de la Hoya

MANILA, Philippines - If this was school, Manny Pacquiao would be consistently on the dean's list. Because after his brutal schooling of Oscar de la Hoya on Sunday, Pacquiao's long-time teacher is giving him another high grade. Coach Freddie Roach was clearly satisfied with the way Pacquiao executed their game plan which resulted in an eight-round, technical-knockout victory over de la Hoya. Asked to rate his student's performance, Roach said Pacquiao deserved an "A plus". "Manny went out there and fought the fight we were supposed to fight," said Roach, who stressed during training camp the need for Pacquiao "to fight the perfect fight" against de la Hoya. At 35 years old and with his better days behind him, de la Hoya was a step behind Pacquiao throughout the contest. Needing to trim down to 147 pounds for the first time in seven years, the naturally bigger de la Hoya remained a heavy pick to roll past Pacquiao. But Pacquiao, despite jumping 12 pounds higher in the last six months, used his vaunted speed and maintained his power to give de la Hoya his worst beating in his career. Roach also previously gave Pacquiao high marks in his matches against David Diaz (last June) and the first time he fought Marco Antonio Barerra (2003). "He (de la Hoya) got older overnight and looked like he could not pull the trigger. I think Manny had a lot to do with that," Roach said. "He was flawless in his in-and-out motion. When he's on his toes, he is going in and out like that, you know where he's coming and going. He darts in so fast and it's hard for anybody to deal with it, but it was really hard for Oscar because he was very slow," the Hall of Fame trainer added. Despite being confident about his chances - and bordering on cocky on more than a few occasions - Roach admitted he had his anxieties too, facing de la Hoya, a 10-time world champion and an Olympic. "I had sleepless nights and that’s why I’m tired right now. I thought maybe I bit off more than I could chew. Maybe I'm wrong," Roach went on. "Then I couldn't sleep at night thinking about the fight, but I told myself that my guy is faster and he (Oscar) has trouble with southpaws and Manny's on top of his game and by the time I went to bed, I had Manny winning again," he added. But the moment the bell rang for the opening round and Pacquiao began hitting de la Hoya with those bombing left straights, Roach knew the fight was Pacquiao's. "Oscar was hesitant all night long," he recalled. Winning against a legend like de la Hoya ranks among Roach's best works. But defying the odds is the one that gives him the most satisfaction. "You know what, my favorite thing is to all those people who said we can’t do it, I just want to smile at them because that says it all." - GMANews.TV