By FightFan.com Staff (20-Feb-2009)
Photo: Ace Freeman
FF: Freddie, what do you think about the style match up with Manny set to face Ricky Hatton?
FR: It’s great. You know Ricky comes to fight. He’s young, he’s vibrant, and he loves to fight. He believes in himself and he’s a tough guy. It’s going to be a very competitive fight and I think it’s a good style match up for Manny and I. Manny does very well with guys who come forward like Hatton does. It’s definitely a great match up… but we’re going to knock him out.
Freddie Roach on Pacquiao vs. Hatton:
FF: Freddie now that the fight is set, and Manny Pacquiao will face Ricky Hatton… can you give us your thoughts on the style match up in this fight?
FR: It’s great. You know Ricky comes to fight. He’s young, he’s vibrant, and he loves to fight. He believes in himself and he’s a tough guy. It’s going to be a very competitive fight and I think it’s a good style match up for Manny and I. Manny does very well with guys who come forward like Hatton does. It’s definitely a great match up.
FF: Hatton is a very strong fighter. How will Manny deal with that strength?
FR: We’re not going to deal with his strength. We’re not going to fight him on the inside. We’re going to fight smart and box this guy. I don’t think Hatton’s strength will come in to play in this fight.
FF: Ricky really likes to work out of the clinch and makes things very physical. Will Manny’s footwork be a big asset in this fight to counter act that?
FR: Of course. You know we’re planning on dealing with it. We’re not going to rely on the referee or anything like that. We will definitely have an answer for it.
FF:How would you rate Hatton’s power? He is a strong guy and a strong puncher. Is there any concern there, maybe with Hatton’s body punching?
FR: He’s a decent puncher and he’s very good with attacking to the body. He’s a good puncher but we’re not going to stand in front of this guy and exchange with him. We’re going to fight a smart fight like we did with Oscar.
FF: If there are moments where they end up standing toe-to-toe do you like Manny’s chances even though it might not be the smartest thing to do?
FR: If Hatton stands toe-to-toe with us, we’ll knock him out.
FF:Hatton is a younger guy, very strong… do you think he can still pull the trigger?
FR: Oh yea… but I also don’t think he’s the same fighter he was before he lost to Mayweather. I think the Mayweather fight took something out of him and that he looked pretty shaky in the Lazcano fight. He did look very good in the Malignaggi fight, but Paulie looked really bad in that fight for some reason. We’re not that style of fighter though.
I’ve been watching tape of Ricky, I’ve studied the Lazcano fight and I have his last ten bouts on video. We’ll study him thoroughly and see what kind of game plan we can come up with. My new assistant Michael Moorer (former world heavyweight champion) is going to help with training Manny for this fight. We should be okay.
FF:Where do you think Hatton ranks up with the other fighters Manny has faced?
FR: He’s definitely up there… you know the top three guys were probably Morales, Marquez and Oscar and Ricky’s a world champion and that doesn’t happen by accident. Ricky’s a tough guy who likes to fight - and we like to fight - so it should be good.
FF:Did you notice any improvements with Hatton training under Mayweather Sr.?
FR: Oh yes! Tremendous improvements! (Laughs) Give me a break!
FF:I thought if anything else he looked a lot more like his old self…
FR: No comment.
FF:Okay… moving right along. What weight do you want to see Manny enter the ring at for this fight?
FR: The contracted weight for the fight is 140, and I’d like to see Manny at 147 in the ring on fight night.
FF:We’re going to put you on the spot. What’s the prediction for this fight?
FR: We’ll knock Hatton out.
FF:Freddie as always, thanks for this.
FR: My pleasure.
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