Pacquiao has the greatest jab according to Roach

MANILA, Philippines - In the middle of a smooth, three-hour flight from Toluca, Mexico to Los Angeles the other day, Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach worked on their game plan.

Pacquiao, in a shirt and tie, was having an animated chat with a couple of scribes, throwing right hooks, jabs and uppercuts to the air when his trainer got off his seat.

“You know, you have the greatest jab in the world,” said Roach.

Pacquiao, at the tailend of the hectic World Press Tour for his Nov. 12 date with old nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, paused to face his trainer.

“But you’re not using it often. You’re not using it well,” Roach continued.

Bob Arum was playing card games on his iPad, enjoying the comforts of the gold-trimmed 11-seater Gulfstream jet, as the discussion went on.

Michael Koncz, the boxer’s adviser, was going through documents three inches thick while the boxer’s lawyer, Geng Gacal, and second, Roger Fernandez, dozed off.

What Roach was actually saying was that if Pacquiao floored Marquez many times with his left hand in their first two fights, then it’s time to give the Mexican a taste of his right.

“I feel my right hand is much stronger now,” said Pacquiao.

“Yes,” said Roach as Pacquiao jabbed the air a couple more times.

“Your jab is as strong as a straight. You can knock this guy (Marquez) out with your jab anytime,” Roach said.

Pacquiao listened hard.

During the New York leg of the 25,000-mile press tour, Arum recognized Roach’s tremendous effort in turning Pacquiao into a two-handed fighter.

“With the help of Freddie Roach, he became a complete package. He used to be a southpaw that relied completely on the left hand,” Arum said.

“Now he’s become a two-handed fighter, and he’s a much smarter fighter now than he was then,” the 79-year-old promoter said.

Marquez is going to face the best Pacquiao ever.

Source: philstar.com