Boxing News 2015: Freddie Roach Admits Manny Pacquiao’s Killer Instinct Is Gone

Manny Pacquiao’s fans should start covering their ears after his trainer’s recent comments in an interview claiming that the Filipino champion’s “killer instinct” is gone. Not only that, Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee Pacquiao might as well cover her ears too after the world-class trainer commented that the old Pacquiao definitely “chased girls a little bit too much” alluding to Pacquiao’s previous lifestyle.

A little over two months before the reported super fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roach has admitted that Pacquiao then is different from the Pacquiao now, particularly in how he handles opponents on top of the squared ring.

"For me, it's good and bad, he had a lot of bad habits and he had a lot of good habits… At one time he’d gamble a little bit too much,” Roach said in an interview via Fight Hype. “Does he have the killers instinct that he once had? I have to answer honestly, I don’t think so. But he [Pacquiao] feels that it’s enough to beat the person, you don’t have to kill him… That’s kind of what have right now and you just have to live with that.”

Curiously, Roach did not hold back any punches in mentioning and describing Pacquiao as a person who “chased girls a little bit too much” referring to the Filipino’s penchant for extra curricular activities in previous years. Pacquiao, according to unfounded rumours, has been linked to other women although he has since turned into a devout Christian and now appears to be focused on boxing and his family.

Ultimately, Roach admitted that the Pacquiao turning back on his previous lifestyle is good for the boxer, on and off the ring, saying he thinks Pacquiao “made some good choices” and there’s more good than bad in the more-controlled Pacquiao.

Roach stated Pacquiao’s previous fight [versus Chris Algieri) as a prime example on why he thinks Pacquiao’s killers instinct is gone. Roach said that his ward is still explosive and still wants to finish off an opponent when he sees him hurt but it did not happen in the fight in Macau. It remains to be seen which Pacquiao— the aggressive slugger or the more calculating boxer— will be present against Mayweather Jr, if the fight does happen.

Mayweather Jr, widely considered as the best boxer in the planet, is known for his defensive skills on top of the ring and with the old boxing adage that “style make fights” fans are excited to see how a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout will turn out.

The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight has yet to be announced but multiple outfits like ESPN in the United States, Daily Mail in the United Kingdom plus other media outlets are reporting that the fight is a done deal and just waiting for the official announcing coming from Mayweather Jr. The tentative date for the fight is on May 2, 2015 and the prospective venue is at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in the U.S.

To contact author of this article, email j.quizon@IBTimes.com.au.