Roach: ‘Dirty’ Korean easy prey for Pacman

Freddie Roach yesterday branded Injin Chi as a "dirty fighter" but the American trainer believes that Korean champion won’t last the distance against Manny Pacquiao.

"We were told that he’s a dirty fighter. But at the end of day, I think Manny will knock him out in the early rounds," Roach told scribes at the Body Worx Spa and Fitness Club along West Ave.

Pacquiao is to face Chi, the World Boxing Council 126-lb champion, at the Wynn Hotel in Macau on April 28. It will be Pacquiao’s first fight of the year.

The fight is set at 12 rounds and 130 lbs. The Korean, who has beaten a string of Filipino fighters in his pro career, has decided to move one division higher for a crack at Pacquiao.

Roach said Pacquiao will train eight weeks for the coming fight with the first four set at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, and the remainder either in Manila, Cebu or Gen. Santos City.

"We’re talking about it right now. But since the fight is in Macau, we’d rather train in LA for the early part to avoid some serious jet-lag. So, it’s four weeks in LA, four weeks in the Philippines," said Roach.

Roach, who has trained Pacquiao since 2001, arrived in the country last week to shoot a San Miguel Beer commercial with Pacquiao and Mexican legend Erik Morales.

Morales left the other day after a week-long stay that brought him and his wife to the horseraces, a golf course, some high-end malls and the costly Amanpulo Resort in Palawan.

Roach has stayed behind to launch his Freddie Roach Boxing Camp, which will soon take off at the state-of-the-art Quezon City fitness club owned by Kathy Lim Uy.

As part of the deal, Roach will now have to visit the fitness club once every two months, to oversee the boxing camp to be run by Filipino boxing trainers.

"I’m just glad to have my name on this camp. Now I have to visit this gym at least six times a year. This is a great gym and it’s got great equipment," said Roach during a brief press conference.

Roach also said it’s even possible for Pacquiao to train at Body Worx.

Pacquiao trained eight weeks for his fight against Morales last November, and six weeks for his battle against Oscar Larios in Manila last July in Manila.