Roach Talks About Sparring Plans, Hopes For the Ref, More

So little time, so much to do to get ready for the stiffest test of a Hall of Famer-level career: how will Manny Pacquiao be getting ready to fight the defensive master Floyd Mayweather on May 2?

Indeed, the count-down to that scrap is an abbreviated one compared to most runups to big bouts Pacman has signed on for. Usually, he’ll do 12 weeks of camp. For this one, the big one, he will get to Wild Card on March 8, Coach Roach told me, and so really, camp will consist of two weeks of getting in game shape, and six weeks of boxing.

“Manny Pacquiao works so hard, he’s in danger of burning himself out,” the tutor told me, by way of explaining why he’s totally fine with the shorter camp. Usually, he continued, they do maybe 150 rounds of sparring to get ready for a foe. This time, Manny will spar maybe 90-100 rounds. There will be more heavy bag, less interacting with human targets, he said.

“It’s plenty of time. We’ll do six weeks of sparring, then taper off at the end.”

OK, so we all pretty much know Manny is going to be ready to rock. What about the fight? What does it look like? Manny is a volume guy; that could be helpful assuming neither guy scores a knockout. Seems a good bet, as Mayweather has hand issues and is risk averse, while Pacman hasn’t stopped anyone since 2009…

“The volume edge is very good,” Roach told me. “But, we know Mayweather is comfortable with Vegas.”

Translation: who thinks the judges will be in a mindset to give the closest rounds to Pacman? “All I’m asking for is a fair fight,” he said. That means who-ever refs, Roach wants them to let the boys rumble, let the fight flow. “The whole world will be watching and judging boxing,” the ex pro and 7-time BWAA Trainer of the Year said. Roach didn’t name a ref that he doesn’t want to get the assignment, and said he has faith that whoever gets the call will do a solid job.

TSS Universe, who do you want to see get the call? Kenny Bayless? Tony Weeks? Someone else? Talk to me…

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