Manny Pacquiao sets the pace at Griffith Park early Monday morning. (ROY LUARCA)
Hollywood— Freddie Roach wants Manny Pacquiao to deploy his full arsenal against Timothy Bradley on April 9.
The seven-time trainer of the year demands the lethal combination of speed and power from his prized ward this time. Pacquiao’s vaunted speed won’t suffice to please him.
“Speed and power, that’s what I want to see,” Roach told Filipino sportswriters Monday. “We haven’t seen it in a long while.”
Roach just fell short of saying that he’s pining to see Pacquiao knock out Bradley and end his ring career with a bang.
After all, Pacquiao’s last stoppage came in 2009 yet at the expense of Puerto Rican icon Miguel Cotto in the 12th round.
Pacquiao’s dazzling back-to-back workouts Saturday and Monday propped up Roach’s confidence for a stoppage this time.
“He’s fiery. He’s really on fire,” said Roach. “It’s a great workout. He’s really great. Power, speed, it’s a very good day.”
Reiterating his observation on Saturday, Roach said Pacquiao is ready to fight (Bradley).
“The thing is we still have a week to go, we still have some more sparring days, but he’s ready to fight right now.”
Based on schedule, Pacquiao will spar for six rounds Tuesday and four each Thursday and Saturday before Team Pacquiao heads for Las Vegas Monday.
Roach was very pleased with the way Pacquiao breezed through the two-hour training session done behind closed doors at his Wild Card Gym here. “His footwork has always been great. He’s doing really well.”
He was doubly pleased that Pacquiao showed up early.
“It was the second time in camp that he came early,” said Roach, who’s used to Pacquiao arriving late for workouts before pouring it all in training.
Asked about Pacquiao’s seemingly lean frame, Roach admitted that the reigning Fighter of the Decade was indeed on the light side for the right reasons.
“Little bit low he’s just 145. When he works hard that’s what happens,” said Roach, who asked his Filipino assistant, Marvin Somodio, to provide details of the day’s training session.
According to Somodio, Pacquiao put up another Class A performance.
After a 10-round mitts session with Roach, Pacquiao pummeled the bags and culminated his training by spending six rounds shadow boxing, ten rounds jumping ropes and doing 1,000 sit-ups.
Pacquiao started the day feeling fine and light on his feet.
Despite a drizzle, Pacquiao continued his uphill-downhill run and completed his exercises, unmindful of a short downfall at Griffith Park.
Aware of dire consequences if Pacquiao gets sick, the Kayote Boys, a group of Filipino former boxers formed by assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, scurried to cover him with white towels even as a pair of umbrellas sprang up.
Fortunately, the skies cleared up and Pacquiao headed back home without a hitch.
After attending to youngest child Israel and having breakfast, Pacquiao hit the sack and woke up invigorated so he decided to proceed to Wild Card and work out a sweat.
For Roach, the gesture was both swift and sweet.