Roach: Weight not an issue for Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Unlike before, weight would not be an issue for Manny Pacquiao this time. Trainer Freddie Roach said the “Pacman" currently weigh 146 pounds Thursday, giving him just enough leeway to shed the extra weight in time for his International Boxing Organization (IBO) light-welterweight bout with Ricky Hatton. Ever since moving up in weight at 135 pounds and above, the Filipino ring icon hasn’t had any problems making the weighing scales. The last time Pacquiao struggled in tipping the scales came during his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez at 130 lb. “(Weight) is not too much an issue at this point," said Roach, reunited with Pacquiao following a one day break in training last Wednesday at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, California. “He had two protein shake (Thursday) to keep the weight on him," said the American trainer. Roach bared Pacquiao’s protein intake will be lessened by one come next week. “Hope by then, he’ll go down to 138 easily. We use that (protein shake) to keep weight on Manny, so weight is no problem. He doesn’t like the protein shake anyway." On the day he is scheduled to leave for Puerto Rico to man the corner of Filipino Gerry Peñalosa in his title fight against unbeaten Juan Manuel Lopez, Roach declared that Pacquiao is ready against Hatton. “I’m very happy at where he’s at," he said. “We don’t need to do anything else. We got the game planned down. He’s got a fight to fight… All I can say between now is good job, have some fun and stay loose." Roach would be away for the next three days for the Peñalosa bout, where the 35-year old veteran Filipino is a long shot 6-1 underdog against his mean-punching 25-year old foe. He returns here Sunday night, leaving Pacquiao’s training chores to assistant Michael Moorer, second assistant Buboy Fernandez and conditioning coach Alex Ariza. – GMANews.TV