Roach: Pacquiao to stick to 147lbs for next fight

If coach Freddie Roach will have his way, he’ll have Manny Pacquiao return as a welterweight in his next fight. For the first time, the four-time Trainer of the Year admitted that by agreeing to go up to 150 pounds in Pacquiao’s November 13 title showdown with Antonio Margarito, the Filipino boxing icon is giving away some advantage to his Mexican foe known as the "Tijuana Tornado." “We should fight at 147, let’s face it," said the 50-year-old Roach as he and Pacquiao entered the final phase of their preparation for the 12-round fight against Margarito. “But they made the deal. I have to live with it." By that, Roach was referring to the catch weight agreed upon by both parties for the bout, which will be held at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas possible. The catch weight has been set at 150 lbs., the biggest weight class Pacquiao will be fighting in since he began to box professionally 15 years ago as a flyweight. “I hate catch weight fights," Roach admitted. In contrast, Margarito has been fighting as a welterweight for his entire pro career, and already fought as a light middleweight in his last bout against Roberto Garcia. And that’s where the distinct difference lies between the two power-punching warriors. “I’ll say this again, if Margarito has an advantage here, it’s the catch weight that was instituted for this fight," Roach said. “In looking at Margarito, it looks like he’s very strong and stout, and in essence, you’re letting a big welterweight not have the responsibility of cutting the last few precious pounds off his big frame." In addition, the 32-year old Mexican from Tijuana also enjoys a five-inch advantage in height and a seven-inch advantage in reach. Reports coming from Margarito’s training camp in Oxnard, California, however, revealed he’s still at least six pounds over the 150-lb limit. While admitting that the Mexican has yet to shed off the excess pounds, trainer Robert Garcia said the weight will be the least of Margarito’s concerns come fight time. “We will be a healthy 150 during the weigh-in," said Garcia, who also trains former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. “To bring us down to 150 thinking that it will affect Antonio Margarito, they’re making a big mistake. They’re thinking it’s going to their favor, but Margarito has been training so hard and is having no weight problem," Garcia added. Pacquiao is doing the opposite. Unlike before when he also needed to lose weight prior to a fight, the Filipino southpaw has been eating heartily in training camp as he needs to bulk up before the formal weigh-in on November 12. “He weighs 146 right now," Roach said. The 31-year-old Pacquiao has fought as a welterweight in his last two matches against Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey, and is currently the World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion at 147. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV