Freddie Roach is oozing with confidence with less than a month before the highly anticipated showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather on May at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While most analysts are saying that Pacquiao has slowed down and has lost his killer instinct, Roach thinks otherwise. The Hall of Fame trainer said that based on what he is seeing, the 2015 version of Pacquiao is even a better fighter compared to Pacquiao of 2010.
In an interview, Roach pointed out that the Filipino boxing icon has grown into a full-blown welterweight, which makes him believe Pacquiao is a more formidable fighter at this point of his career.
"I am convinced that the 2015 'model' is the more formidable fighter for a few reasons," Roach said. "Back in 2010, Manny was still growing into a welterweight. His first two welterweight fights were against Oscar De La Hoya in 2008 and Miguel Cotto in 2009 where he only weighed 142 and 144 pounds, respectively."
Despite facing weight disadvantage, Pacquiao managed to score an impressive win against Cotto in November 2009, knocking the Puerto Rican out in the 12th round of the World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight.
In 2008, Pacquiao also dominated a much bigger De La Hoya. The eight-division champion forced the badly-beaten De La Hoya to give up before the start of the ninth round of the match. As for Roach, he is convinced Mayweather will suffer the same fate in the Cinco de Mayo weekend fight.
"Manny now has five more years experience fighting at the welterweight level," Roach said. "The 2015 Manny is going to fight the perfect fight. I look at this the same as I did I when Manny fought Oscar De La Hoya. I have all the confidence in the world that Manny is going to knock Floyd out on May 2."
Roach also pointed out that age has affected Mayweather more than it affected Pacquiao. The veteran trainer remained firm on his belief that Mayweather's legs are shot based on his recent fights against Marcos Maidana last year.
The 55-year-old trainer said that Mayweather cannot run the ring for the entire round anymore unlike before and is now forced to engage because he can no longer like he is used to doing earlier in his career, which makes him believe Pacquiao will eventually knock the reigning pound-for-pound king out on May 2.
