Manny Pacquiao sees long-time trainer Freddie Roach becoming a happy camper after he takes care of business on Nov. 23 in Macau.
Just before Pacquiao and Roach and members of his training and promotional team left for Hong Kong to meet the Chinese media, the Filipino fighter assured his Hall of Fame trainer that “he won’t be disappointed” when he battles the upset-conscious and unbeaten Chris Algieri at the CotaiArena.
“I am going for it all,” said Pacquiao as quoted by ace publicist Fred Sternburg, who arrived in General Santos City with Top Rank big boss Bob Arum last week.
After the open workout this afternoon in the bustling Central district of Hong Kong, Pacquiao and his team will head back home to resume his training, while Arum and Sternburg will return to the US.
What will certainly make Roach a happy man is for Pacquiao to pull off an overpowering performance, something that fans and even the media have been clamoring the past few years.
Pacquiao is confident that exactly will happen against Algieri although the 35-year-old wouldn’t publicly say just that.
But based on what Roach has been seeing in the gym, the way Pacquiao has been treating his sparring partners, there is little doubt in his mind that the five-year knockout drought will come to an end next month.
Last time Pacquiao scored an abbreviated win, it took him almost 12 rounds to stop Miguel Cotto.
Since then, Pacquiao has settled for lopsided decision victories.
But Pacquiao’s handlers insist that he was just facing fighters who are naturally bigger than him.
Still, that streak is about to come to a screeching halt.
“A knockout is in place,” Roach said.
Hopefully yet not careless.