Manny Pacquiao Trainer Freddie Roach Shares Strategy for Winning ‘Fight of the Century’

Before heading to Las Vegas to be ringside with Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao as he takes on Floyd Mayweather, Jr., famed trainer Freddie Roach sat down with “Extra's” Charissa Thompson at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, where he revealed his winning strategy for Pacquiao, saying, “This is the biggest fight ever.”

Roach, who has been working with Pacquiao since 2001, explained his strategy for the 36-year-old boxer. “Pretty much we just want Manny to be a little more aggressive with this guy, and not let him rest, because his [Mayweather's] legs are a little shot now.”

He continued, saying Mayweather was “a fast mover before, but now he just walks around the ring a bit, then takes rests on the ropes. I just told Manny he has to identify when he's resting on the ropes, and then we have to attack him right away and flurry. Manny's legs are really good still, he's still in very good shape.”

He said Manny's footwork is the key to winning the fight, and he has the advantage in punching power. “I know he [Mayweather] has a good right hand, but he can't hurt Manny with it, but he might land it and score a couple of times.”

His concern about Mayweather getting into the ring: “He's crafty, he's smart, he's not undefeated by accident, he's a very good fighter, but I think he picks and chooses his opponents a little bit, and this one, I think he picked the wrong guy.”

Freddie, a former boxer, knows all too well how the ring can ravage the body, revealing he's the one to tell his fighters when it's time to retire, even Manny. “I have Parkinson's because of boxing, it's not the easiest game in the world, but I have agreements with a lot of my fighters, when I tell them it's over, it's over, and Pacquiao's one of those guys.” He added, “I say, 'Manny, when I tell you it's over it's over,' and he says that he will definitely retire when I say that.”

Charissa stepped into the ring and put the boxing gloves on to learn some tricks of the trade from the trainer himself. Check it out!