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Roach’s game plan: Take out Hatton’s focus
MANILA, Philippines â Freddie Roach has the work all cut out for Manny Pacquiao in his light-welterweight fight with Ricky Hatton. Aware Hatton is not exactly a âpatient fighter", Roach said the thing to do is frustrate the Englishman champion and let him abandon their fight plan. Once that happens, itâs going to be short night for him and his trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. âWeâll go out there and box this guy, frustrate him, he canât find us. Heâll see a second chance and start swinging from far away, no problem," said Roach. âMayweather might try to come out with the job and box a little bit, but as soon as heâs get hit, heâll come forward just like heâs trained to do and lives to do the whole life. He will walk into combinations until heâs knocked out." The three-time Trainer of the Year likened the 30-year old Hatton to a young Pacquiao, who likes to always come forward and slug it out with his opponent. While the Filipino ring icon remains one of the worldâs most exciting fighters with his gung-ho style of fighting, Roach said Pacquiao has developed into a better, all-around boxer through the years. âWeâll not to fight the typical Manny Pacquiao fight where we go forward. Pacquiao has progress beyond that. He knows how to fight both ways now," said the 49-year old trainer. âCome on, forward angle and backwards. This is going to be different because this guy has strength for style." Roach said theyâre ready whatever Hatton, the reigning International Boxing Organization (IBO) light-welterweight champion, brings on the table but cautions the native of Manchester, England not to fall to Pacquiaoâs traps. âWeâll be initiating moves, but the tempo will all be up to him. If he wants to come forward, weâll let him come in to our traps. If he wants to come, weâll walk him in," he said. Eight weeks of intense training under him has groomed Pacquiao for his first fight in 2009 and Roach canât seem to get ready for the fight to happen. Asked if the worldâs top pound-for-pound fighter is already one hundred percent ready, Roach didnât have a hard time groping for words. âYes, he said emphatically. âThe reason why we will win this fight is because I have the better fighter." â GMANews.TV
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