Midway through an intense padwork sessions with Manny Pacquiao at the Wild Card Boxing Club, Freddie Roach excused himself for about a minute to catch his breath.
Apparently, Roach got smacked with a thunderous shot between the chest and the abdomen and was forced to take a break.
Even with a thick body shield protecting him from Pacquiao’s pummeling punches, Roach was asked that he be alowed to pause even for a few seconds.
The seconds rolled into ten, twenty and pretty soon, Roach was still gasping for air, according to ace publicist Fred Sternburg, who has the best view of Pacquiao’s workouts in preparation for the May 2 super showdown with Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas.
“Freddie’s been hit hard before but he told me that this was different and Manny asked him why and kept on saying he’s sorry,” said Sternburg.
“Freddie was surprised to learn that Manny told him that he didn’t even throw everything behind the punch that had Freddie gasping.”
Sternburg said there is raging fire in Pacquiao’s eyes and Roach says it’s been quite a long time since he’d seen the same in his star pupil.
“We’re starting to think that this fight could end up like the Oscar De La Hoya fight,” said Sternburg.
Roach is looking at all possibilities, noted Sternburg.
Sternburg said that Roach has Mayweather all figured out and that the unbeaten US fighter will be in for a shock come fight night at the MGM Grand.
“Everyone’s very impressed with what they’ve been seeing in the gym,” added Sternburg.