Roach may bagong estratehiya para talunin ni Pacquiao si Rios

MANILA, Philippines - Bagamat hindi pa sila nagkikita ni Manny Pacquiao ay may inihanda nang estratehiya si chief trainer Freddie Roach laban kay Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios.

“We have a good game plan set up for Brandon (Rios), he’s a very tough guy in the pocket, and he’s dangerous there,” wika ni Roach sa panayam ng ThaBoxingVoice.com. “Footwork and angles will be very important in the fight and whoever can pull the game will win the fight.”

Nakatakdang magsa­gupa sina Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) at Rios (31-1-1), 23 KOs) sa isang non-title, welterweight fight sa Nobyembre 23 sa The Venetian sa Macau, China.

Nauna nang nag-ensa­yo ang 27-anyos na si Rios sa boxing gym ni Me­xican trainer Robert Garcia sa Oxnard, California, habang kamakailan ay sinimulan na ng  34-anyos na si Pacquiao ang pagpapakondisyon sa General Santos City.

Ayon kay Roach, suntok-takbo ang ipapagawa niya kay Pacquiao sa pagsagupa kay Rios.

“We need to put combinations together and then get out of harm’s way because Brandon will be swinging back, we’ll box and bang,” sabi ni Roach.

Idinagdag pa ni Roach na maaaring mahirapan si Rios sa mga suntok na pakakawalan ni Pacquiao sa welterweight division.

“At 47 Manny’s a big puncher and we don’t think Brandon can take a punch from a big puncher at 47. He’s only fought twice at 40 and this is his first fight at 47. Alvarado was not really a big puncher. He’s (Rios) usually fought guys at 35,” sabi ng American trainer kay Rios.

Si Rios ay isang dating World Boxing Association lightweight champion at huling natalo noong Marso 30 kay Mike Alvarado via unanimous decisions sa kanilang rematch.

Nanggaling naman si Pacquiao sa dalawang sunod na kabiguan kina Timothy Bradley, Jr. at Juan Manuel Marquez noong nakaraang taon.