Roach planes in  for Pacquiao training in Baguio

MANILA — Freddie Roach will employ the same formula that will help Manny Pacquiao get past Antonio Margarito on November 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The celebrated trainer, in the country to oversee Pacquiao’s training, made a very rare appearance at the PSA Forum at Shakey’s along UN Avenue.

Roach came with two boxers, Glen Tapia and Manuel Medina, whom he brought in from Los Angeles last Sunday as sparring partners. Two more are coming in soon.

“We have four sparring partners. We plan to do 150 rounds of sparring,” said Roach, reminding everyone that it’s basically the same number they’ve had for their recent fights.

“I wanted to keep the number down but with Manny I don’t think that’s possible. He just keeps on working harder everyday. On Tuesday we’ll begin sparring,” added the American trainer.

Pacquiao entered his second day of training under Roach at the Elorde Boxing Gym in Quezon City Tuesday, and the chief trainer said there’s enough time to get him in tip-top shape.

Roach said the entire team will leave for Baguio City Thursday evening and based on his plan everybody stays there until the third week of October.

“Then maybe on the 20th of next month we move to Los Angeles for two weeks and then the last week at Dallas. Baguio is a nice place to train. It has the altitude and not the traffic,” he said.

Pacquiao normally does the entire training in LA except for the Marco Antonio Barrera fight in 2007 where he trained briefly in Cebu, and the Miguel Cotto fight last year where he also stayed in Baguio.

Roach said he does not see any distractions while Pacquiao trains in Manila and in Baguio. He knows that Pacquiao is aware of the importance of this fight for the vacant WBC super-welterweight crown.

It gives Pacquiao a chance at an eighth world title in eight different weight classes. So far, he’s the only one with seven.

“As long as he works hard at the gym I’ll have no problem with that,” said Roach, adding that on fight night he’d make sure he’ll be inside Margarito’s dressing room when they wrap his hands.

“I’ll be the one to check on that,” said Roach of the 5-foot-11 Mexican who was suspended last year for illegal handwraps during his fight with Shane Mosley in January of 2009.

Roach said Margarito can be a dirty fighter, and can do “anything to make him win the fight.” (PNA)