Speaking with GMA News, Roach warned of the strong possibility that this one could be all over in just one-round – in Pacquiao’s favour, of course!
“Don’t be surprised if this fight goes one round,” Roach said. “I know that’s a bold statement. I think he [Marquez] will try to exchange with Manny, come after Manny, because he has hurt Manny a couple of times in the past. But if he does that, he’ll end up on the floor.
“I think he will come out and exchange with us. I told Manny to be ready for a fast start, because this guy will try and get you out that early. But I really, really hope that happens because I think that would be to our favour..”
1st-round KO’s can be bad for business – especially when fans have spent so much money to see the fight: in this case a heavily-hyped fight. Pac-Man has not scored a 1st-round win since way back in his super-bantamweight days, when he took out Thailand’s Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym in just two minutes and 46-seconds in October of 2002. However, Pac-Man did come close to stopping British hero Ricky Hatton in a round back in 2009, and as far as Marquez goes, Pacquiao famously had the Mexican down three times in the opening round of their first epic, back in 2004.
There is no doubting Pacquiao’ punch power, and Marquez can be a slow starter. Maybe Roach believes his fighter really can do the job so fast, and isn’t just trying to score a last minute psychological edge. How the paying fans will feel if the action is all over in roughly the same amount of time as it takes to boil an egg is anyone’s guess though.
It’s a good thing the under-card at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas is a reasonably well stacked one – with Timothy Bradley-Joel Casamayor and Breidis Prescott-Mike Alvarado heading the list of supporting bouts that feature big names. These two fights at least promise to go a few rounds.
But as to the main event; if yet another pre-fight Roach prediction is proven correct, the usual collection of high rollers, movie stars and regular fight fans will be back gambling in the casinos quicker than Bob Arum can say Floyd Mayweather is scared of Manny Pacquiao’s right hand!