Roach: Mayweather would've won 5 years ago, but Pacquiao has more heart now

Manny Pacquiao's long-time coach Freddie Roach predicts a victory via a late round knock out for his best student against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.

In an interview with ESPN columnist Skip Bayless, the Hall of Fame trainer said that Pacman would win via stoppage "very late in the fight" with the long process of breaking down the American boxer's defenses.

Roach recognized that the pound-for-pound king is a difficult opponent for Pacquiao with his style and smarts, but he said that Mayweather has "bad hands" which do not have a lot of punching power.

"Five years ago, maybe Floyd would've beaten Manny," he said, contrary to the popular opinion that the eight-division champion would have the upperhand if the fight had been made in 2010. "[But] Manny has more heart right now."

Considered as the richest fight in boxing history, the welterweight megabout will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2, more than five years after talks started in 2009.

Since then, Mayweather, 38, remains unbeaten in 47 fights while Pacquiao, 36 has been knocked out and lost via controversial decision in 2012. Roach, however, believes that the Sarangani representative still has the speed and power that carried him to 57 victories and 38 knockouts despite his recent defeats.

"You really don't realize just how fast Manny is or how hard he hits until you actually get hit by him," he said. —Marisse Panaligan/GMA News