Roach wary of Sanchez

International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach plans a "different strategy" for Agapito Sanchez than what he laid out against Lehlo Ledwaba but isn’t disclosing what’s on his mind.

Roach, who has worked with over 10 world titlists, turned Pacquiao into a mean fighting machine and polished his defensive skills for Ledwaba. He trained Pacquiao in his Los Angeles gym for only 2 1/2 weeks but that was enough. Pacquiao demolished Ledwaba in six to wrest the IBF 122-pound diadem in Las Vegas last June.

But Sanchez, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) titleholder, is no Ledwaba. He fights dirty, hits below the belt, uses unorthodox punches, and is bull-strong. Ledwaba, in contrast, is refined and predictable. That’s why fight experts are calling the Pacquiao-Sanchez title unification duel a "barn burner" and "show stealer."

Pacquiao and Sanchez face off in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Nov. 10. It’s in the undercard of a mainer featuring World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion Floyd Mayweather versus No. 1 contender Jesus Chavez of Mexico.

"(Sanchez) has a whole different style, he switches to southpaw and so forth," says Roach, quoted by Marc Lichtenfeld in the Professional Boxing Update newsletter (Oct. 10). "It will be a little different strategy but basically, Manny is a complete fighter. He punches hard. They brought me in to work on his defense but he’s picking up things very quickly and he’s getting better all the time."

Pacquiao left Manila to join Roach in Los Angeles with business manager Rod Nazario and chief second Lito Mondejar last Oct. 16. They are expected to relocate to San Francisco at least four days before the bout.

Roach, 41, refuses to take credit for Pacquiao’s win over Ledwaba. "When the bell rings, I sit down so give it (credit) to him," says Roach. "(Manny’s) unbelievable. He’s a real nice kid. He’s going to be a superstar."

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Roach, a disciple of Joe Frazier’s late legendary trainer Eddie Futch, says he now trains 14 pros, including Philippine-born US Olympian Brian Viloria of Hawaii.

In the London trade paper Boxing News (Aug. 17), Roach cited Futch as his greatest influence as a trainer. "(Futch) was always very calm," he said, quoted by Dominic Calder-Smith. "I don’t believe in getting excited and screaming at your fighter. It’s very important for a trainer to keep calm, just like Eddie always did. The most important aspect of boxing to teach is to make the most of your natural ability. Too many trainers try and change things. You’ve got to let the fighter’s natural ability grow because that’s what he’ll revert to when he’s in trouble."

Roach says Pacquiao is oozing with natural ability and that’s why it’s easy to bring out the best in the General Santos City southpaw.

What does Roach plan for Sanchez? He’s not talking. The scouting report on the Dominican Republic brawler is he’s "a game, talented fighter who has become as notorious for his illegal tactics as for his ability…(he) likes to push forward and keep the pressure on … at his best, he works the body well at close range and is very effective with uppercuts." Sanchez is known for his power, guts, determination, and granite chin. On the downside, he cuts easily and always enters the fight in a foul mood – he’s a sitting duck for a methodical, relaxed, and intelligent fighter.

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Noted fight expert Graham Houston, writing in the Flash newsletter (Sept. 20), predicted Pacquiao to stop Sanchez in nine.

"I think that the Filipino is simply too hard-punching for Sanchez but the Dominican is likely to have some good moments," said Houston. "If Sanchez can get Pacquiao missing and keep hitting him with right hands, he has a chance – the Filipino has sometimes been a bit of a face-first fighter in the past. But those left-hand thunderbolts of the taller Pacquiao can quickly cancel out any advantage his opponent might gain. Sanchez has a good chin and is unlikely to be blown out early but I think that at some point, he is going to get hit cleanly and weakened to the point where Pacquiao will be able to open up on him and bring the referee’s intervention, maybe by the ninth round."

Curiously, Houston didn’t foresee Pacquiao turning the lights off on the switch-hitting Sanchez – an indication of respect for the Dominican’s sturdiness. Instead, he saw the referee coming to Sanchez’ rescue.

Sanchez, 31, packs a 33-7-1 record, with 19 KOs. He has been stopped only once since turning pro in 1989 – by former WBC featherweight champion Cesar Soto in two. Pacquiao, 22, has a record of 33-2, with 24 KOs.