Pacquiao without Roach

FREDDIE Roach not training Manny Pacquiao for his fight against Argentine knockout artist Lu

I will not go into detail as to what led to the split between Roach and Pacquiao, but the world-class trainer was right when he said that the Filipino cannot juggle boxing at the elite level and serving his countrymen as a Senator.

The partnership between Roach and Pacquiao lasted a good 16 years, with both getting elevated in status. Pacquiao became one of - ning world titles in eight divisions while Roach is sure to be inducted in boxing’s Hall of Fame.

But I am very worried now, because it is at this time that Pacquiao will be needing Roach since the Filipino will be facing a tough opponent in Matthysse this coming June.

Matthysse may not be as elite as Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Canelo Alvarez, among others. But Matthysse is a cut above Pacquiao’s last three opponents particularly Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, and Jeff Horn.

The age difference between Matthysse, 35, and Pacquiao 38, may be not be that big, but the Filipino’s he has sustained more wear and tear from the ring. According to boxrec. com, Pacquiao has fought at total of 455 rounds. On the other hand, Mat with 36 KOs) for a total of only 189 rounds, also according to boxrec.com.

But you have to admire Pacquiao because he still showed spunk in losing to Horn in July last year.

I even felt Pacquiao would have a good chance of defeating or even stopping Matthysse after their However, Roach being absent from Pacquiao’s camp has gotten me worried. Or very worried.

Pacquiao’s childhood friend Buboy Fernandez is now the trainer of the Filipino boxer and this is where things can get more disconcerting.

I am not denigrating Fernandez as something like a second-class somebody like Brandon Rios, who the Filipino boxer turned into a punching bag in November 2013.

What is also scares me besides Roach not being in Pacquiao’s corner will be trained by Joel Diaz, who was in Bradley’s corner for the American’s beat Pacquiao in April 2012 with a controversial decision, and the Filipino avenged that loss in April 2016.

Diaz claims he has studied Pac has the tools to emerge victorious. And than Bradley and is warrior.

And when was the last time Pacquiao stopped an opponent? That was in November 2009 over Miguel Cotto

As somebody who has witnessed last years of their careers, especially badly, I hate to see Pacquiao getting badly beaten by Matthysse in June.

To exit the sport with a bang is very rare, and I am still hoping Pacquiao would win decisively over Matthysse either by decision or stoppage, and eventually hang up his gloves for good.

There are rumors though that a tune-up for an eventual showdown with Terence Crawford (32-0 with 23 KOs), the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion who will be facing Horn also in June.

How I wished Roach would tell Pacquiao not to even think of facing Crawford even if the Filipino wins over Matthysse. Or will Mat after the Argentinian wins over Pacquiao? Nice question.