Roach bares shift in fightplan

LAS VEGAS — Trainer Freddie Roach let the cat out of the bag shortly after Manny Pacquiao scored a convincing third round knockout over Erik Morales to cap their trilogy at the Thomas and Mack Center here Saturday night.

Roach said he had expected a long battle because both fighters worked so hard to get into shape for the "Grand Finale."

But 30 minutes before the match, Roach knew it would end early.

"Manny was running a fever and told me in the dressing room he was dizzy and his tonsils hurt like hell," said Roach. "He wanted to cancel the fight at first. But we talked about it. In the end, he decided to go through with it because he didn’t want to disappoint the fans."

Pacquiao ran a 38.5 degree temperature when he climbed onto the ring to face Morales.

"I figured Manny would try to end it early because he wasn’t feeling well and probably wasn’t sure how long he could last with a fever," said Roach. "I also figured Morales would try to go for a quick knockout because he would be stronger in the early rounds. So if both fighters wanted to engage early, I knew it would end quickly and Manny would win."

Roach said Pacquiao deviated a bit from the fightplan of using shifty footwork to keep Morales from setting up and throwing his punches. It was because Pacquiao went for the early kill.

"Manny was about a step off from what we prepared in the gym," said Roach. "We’ve studied a lot of Morales‚ fights and we knew he’d have problems throwing if he’s not set and Manny’s constantly moving. Morales likes to unload when he’s got a clear target. But there were a few instances when Manny got hit because he stayed in the corner pocket for Morales to strike. I guess Manny just wanted to get it over with and the quickest way was to exchange early."

Roach said unlike in the first fight where Morales looked bigger, Pacquiao appeared stronger and heavier Saturday night. Before entering the ring, Pacquiao weighed 144 pounds and Morales, 139. Clearly, Morales‚ weight reduction program had an adverse effect on his power and ability to take a punch.

In the third round, it seemed like Morales would stay down after the first knockdown. But he glanced at Roach, watching intently from Pacquiao’s corner, and got up on his feet as if motivated to try one more time to stem the tide.

In the weeks leading to the fight, Roach and Morales traded harsh words in media, triggering a word war.

Roach, however, said he never badmouthed Morales.

"I actually don’t know where those quotes attributed to me came from," said Roach. "I guess the publicists wanted to hype the fight by putting words in my mouth and getting Morales to react to what I was supposed to be saying. I respect Morales as a fighter. He’s said some nasty things about Manny but that’s his style, not mine."

Roach said he saw Morales look at him after the first knockdown in the third round.

"When he saw me, he got up all of a sudden like he wanted to prove something to me," said Roach. "Maybe, he should’ve stayed down."

Morales survived the first trip to the canvas but wouldn’t be able to stave off the rampaging Pacquiao. The Mexican fell a second time and referee Vic Drakulich signaled it was over.

Roach said Morales should seriously consider retirement after the crushing loss.

"He has nothing left to prove," said Roach. "He had a great career as a three-time champion. I think it’s time for him to give it up. When a fighter gets knocked out, he’s often never the same again. Morales felt what it was like to get knocked out in the second fight with Manny. And in their third fight, as soon as he got hit hard, Morales never recovered. It’s that way with boxing."