LAS VEGAS, Nevada—World renowned trainers Freddie Roach and Ismael Salas, too, are in a match of their own—just like their wards Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugás who clash on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) for the Cuban’s World Boxing Association super welterweight belt.
Hall of Fame-bound Roach, who molded Pacquiao to an eight-division world champion, has so much to say about his senator ward.
“His work ethic today is as good as it was 20 years ago,” Roach, now a fight consultant to Pacquiao, told the fight’s final news conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Wednesday. “He’s been unbelievable in training and sparring for this fight.”
The way he saw the 42-year-old Pacquiao train at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Roach couldn’t resist but predict a late stoppage victory by the sitting Philippine senator.
“I don’t know if it was a bigger confidence boost for me or Manny, but I’m expecting this fight to end in a knockout the way he’s been looking,” Roach said.
“Manny Pacquiao has been the best fighter I’ve ever trained,” he said. “To win titles in eight divisions and be in fights here at MGM so many times, has been a dream come true.”
“I’ve trained more than 40 world champions throughout my career, but no one competes with Manny Pacquiao,” he added.
Salas, on the other hand, claimed that Roach has yet to beat any of his fighters.
“I don’t care how many times, but I never lost to Freddie Roach,” Salas said. “But I respect him a lot as a trainer.”
Salas said Ugás has been on a win-streak in his last 12 bouts or since they worked together the past few years.
He reminded Pacquiao that Ugás “will not run” just his fellow Cuban, Guillermo Rigondeaux, who lost to Filipino World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero over the weekend.
“The experience that Ugas has from the Olympics and more than 500 amateur bouts is going to be the most important thing for him in this fight,” said Salas, who once coached Thailand’s national team. “We’ve been on a roll these last 12 fights since Ugas started working with me. We’re going to keep it going on Saturday.”