MANILA, Philippines – Matagal na itong hindi naririnig ni trainer Freddie Roach mula kay Manny Pacquiao.
Sinabi ni Roach na gusto ni Pacquiao na makakuha ng isang knockout win laban kay Timothy Bradley sa kanilang pangatlong bakbakan sa April 9 (April 10 Manila time).
Sa isang report ni Michael Rosenthal ng RingTV.com, sinabi ni Roach na gagawin ni Pacquiao ang lahat para mapabagsak si Bradley at makaiskor ng isang KO win na hindi pa niya nagagawa matapos pigilin si Miguel Cotto noong 2009.
“If Manny knocks out Bradley, I’ll be happy. That’s the only way I’ll be happy. And he told me for this camp he wants a knockout. That’s the first time he’s told me that in long, long time,” pahayag ni Roach.
Inaasahang magreretiro si Pacquiao matapos labanan si Bradley sa ikatlong pagkakataon at planong iwan ang boxing sa pamamagitan ng panalo.
Matapos talunin si Cotto via TKO ay nakuntento na lamang si Pacquiao sa mga decision wins.
Pinilit niyang makakuha ng knockout win sa kanilang pang-apat na bakbakan ni Juan Manuel Marquez noong 2012 ngunit napatumba siya ng Mexican sa sixth round.
Sinabi ni Roach na hindi sana ito nangyari kung hinangad kaagad ni Pacquiao na mapatumba si Marquez.
“I said, ‘If you would knock him out a little earlier, he wouldn’t get lucky and knock you out.’ We disagree on that point. Winning a decision isn’t a goal; winning by knockout is,” sabi ng trainer.
Ngayon ay hangad ni Pacquiao na patulugin si Bradley, tumagal ng 12 rounds sa kanilang unang dalawang laban noong 2012 at 2014.
“I think he’s still 80 percent of what he was when he was at his best. He’s still up there, he still really works hard, he still has a lot of speed,” ani Roach. (DM)