Speaking at a conference to hype the Jan. 21 showdown at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Pacquiao, 40-3-2 (31 KOs), pointed to the disrupting subplots that unfolded around their first encounter, including one involving the fight gloves.
"It was my first time to use those (Winning) gloves and it was a distraction," said the General Santos native in an interview with Fightnews.com. "I’m happy to use Reyes gloves this time."
Pacquiao added that the cut he sustained due to an accidental headbutt had hampered his effectiveness. "It was a big distraction to me. I couldn’t see out of my right eye, so when he came to the right side, I couldn’t see him."
According to Roach, Pacquiao has some added reasons to train even harder and perform even better this time around.
"This guy beat us last time and we want revenge in the worst way. Manny’s pride is at stake and he has his whole country behind him, so Manny is much more focused this time. He’s got some great sparring partners and everything is going on schedule. Manny wants this fight badly and I can’t wait for it to happen."
Roach says that while there were mitigating circumstances surrounding Pacquiao’s loss in the first match, there was also a problem with strategy that needs to be fixed.
"I don’t think we fought a great fight the first time. Manny was over-anxious and a little left hand hungry. There are definitely adjustments that can be made to fight a much better fight this time. We’re also studying the tapes of Morales’ loss to Raheem (in his last fight). He had trouble with Raheem’s speed and Manny has that type of speed. We’re going to take advantage of that if we can."
Focused, ready and with a nation resting its hopes on his shoulders, Pacquiao said that although he plans to completely change the story, one thing will remain the same in his rematch with Morales. Regardless of whether they say Reyes on the outside, at the end of the fight, it is he who will still be wearing the winning gloves.