Roach says Pacquiao can finish off rival

Freddie Roach doesn’t see Juan Manuel Marquez getting up if and when the Mexican champion goes down on the floor this time against Manny Pacquiao.
“I think if he (Pacquiao) puts him (Marquez) down now, he’ll keep him down,” said Roach as he looked forward to a big finish favoring his Filipino boxer.
Roach looked back at the May 2004 bout between Pacquiao and Marquez who went down thrice in the opening round but still managed to salvage a draw. (Related story on A-28)
Roach said that shouldn’t happen this time.
“I think he (Pacquiao) is bigger and stronger. He’s just a much bigger person now,” Roach said in an article that came out of philboxing.com yesterday.
Pacquiao and Marquez first met at 126 lbs. This time, the weight limit is pegged at 130 lbs, with the Mexican putting his WBC super-featherweight crown on the line.
“I think he’s a 90 percent better fighter. He’s smarter, more experienced. He sets things up. He has two hands now. I think he’s a much better fighter than the first time they fought,” said Roach.
Marquez, almost five years older at 34, also vowed to knock out Pacquiao.
Roach also said that win or lose, this should be Pacquiao’s last fight as a super-featherweight.
“Definitely, this will be his last fight at 130,” said Roach, adding that promoter Bob Arum has already lined up two fights for Pacquaio at a higher class.
Up next for Pacquiao, granting that he beats Marquez, is WBC lightweight (135 lbs) champion David Diaz on June 21 in Macau, then possibly Ricky Hatton at 140 lbs.
But before he starts thinking of moving up, Pacquiao should first bring Marquez down.Page: 1 -->