Freddie Roach Wants No Less Than a KO Win for Manny Pacquiao on November 12

Freddie Roach, Hall of Fame trainer of Manny Pacquiao, wants no less than a knockout win for the pound-for-pound king on November 12 as he collides with Mexican counter-puncher Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

It seems Roach is no longer happy with just a mere victory, as he predicts a knockout win for the Filipino boxing star.

“Victory is no longer enough. I want Manny to KO Marquez,” said Roach from Baguio City, site of Pacquiao’s training camp.

During the five-city tour that brought the Pacquiao-Marquez entourage to Manila, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Mexico to promote the final bout of their trilogy, Roach told media Pacquiao will no longer fight the way he fought in their last two fights.

“I’d be surprised if the fight goes eight or nine rounds,” Roach said during the New York leg of the press tour early this month.

Pacquiao's trainer Alex Ariz even made a bold prediction, saying Marquez will go down inside six rounds. 

According to an article from PhilStar.com, Ariza believes Pacquiao could end the fight earlier than the sixth round.

"It will be earlier than you would think," said Ariza after supervising Pacquiao’s morning ritual at the teacher’s camp here.

"He is more complete now. He has much more speed, power and explosiveness. Marquez may be a bit smarter and more cautious now. But at the end of the day that will not win you the fight,” the conditioning coach also said."

Ariza was joined by Pacquiao's Venezuelan sparring partner, Jorge Linares. A fellow Roach trainee, Linares stated Pacquiao's power is simply too much for Marquez to handle.

The Venezuelan will be facing Antonio DeMarco October 15th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Marquez has been dreaming about November 12th showdown for the past three years, displayed his humbleness and gratitude, thanking Pacquiao and the Filipino's team for the opportunity to complete the trilogy.

In 2004, Marquez and Pacquiao fought to a controversial draw in a featherweight bout (126 pounds). Pacquiao should have won on a split-decision if not for a scoring error committed by one of the judges who scored a round at 10-7 instead of 10-6 for Pacquiao's three knockdowns of Marquez.

In 2008, at super featherweight (130 pounds), Marquez and Pacquiao clashed in a hotly contested rematch with Pacquiao earning a split-decision, as Pacquiao's third-round knockdown proved to be the difference in the bout.

The November 12 trilogy will determine who among them is the better fighter and the real winner.