Freddie Roach Ready for Margarito's Dirty Tactics

Trainer Freddie Roach (right) takes a break and is helped by his protégé Manny Pacquiao for a quick gulp after the duo’s gruelling training session at the Elorde gym in Quezon City on Monday. (EPA

MANILA, Philippines — Antonio Margarito may try to do anything – even illegal tactics – to beat Manny Pacquiao on November 13 in Dallas.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s long-time trainer, said during Tuesday’s PSA Forum that Margarito, who was banned for one year for loading his hands with prohibited wraps, that he expects the worst from the Mexican.

“It’s a fact. He (Margarito) is a very physical person. He can do anything to win the fight. And if he will do that (illegally wrapping his hands), he will do anything to win,” said Roach when asked if Margarito might resort to dirty tactics come fight night at Cowboys Stadium.

“We’re working on it right now. (We’re looking for Margarito to strike with) elbows (and) headbutts.”

Roach, who arrived in the country over the weekend with sparring partners Glen Tapia and Michael Medina, said he has a gameplan in mind and that centers around movement.   

“(We will) keep Manny out of the position (for those illegal tactics). We are going to use a lot of angles. If he (Pacquiao) fights the right fight, we’ll take it away from him.”

Roach said sparring sessions involving Pacquiao will kick off on Sept. 28 when they are already in Baguio City. Team Pacquiao travels to Baguio Wednesday night.

Pacquiao will spar thrice a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) until a week before the fight and Roach expects the Filipino pound-for-pound king to have logged 150 rounds by the time they arrive in Texas.

Two other sparmates – Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Vanes Martirosyan – are reinforcing Tapia and Medina sometime next week.

Pacquiao and Roach worked out together Monday afternoon at the Elorde Gym on Del Monte Ave. in Quezon City and Roach was very pleased with what he saw and felt during the seven-round session with the mitts.

The workouts will become even more intense once they set up camp in Baguio, whose serenity and high-altitude attracted Roach.

“Baguio is a very nice place to train with the altitude and there’s no traffic. It’s very convenient to train there,” added Roach, who had to leave the forum early because of a scheduled workout with Pacquiao later in the afternoon.

Pacquiao will train in Baguio until the second half of October before returning to Roach’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood for the final push.

Meanwhile, Margarito is also in the thick of training for Pacquiao based on reports from Los Angeles as trainer Robert Garcia revealed that Margarito has been doing his morning roadwork in the rugged mountains of San Bernardino.