Freddie Roach insists he hasn't seen Manny Pacquiao so motivated before. Steve Marcus / Reuters
Freddie Roach insists he hasn't seen Manny Pacquiao so motivated before. Steve Marcus / Reuters

Bernard Hopkins weighs into Mayweather v Pacquiao: Superfight diary day 3 part II



My third day in Las Vegas, and a busy morning as it starts with a round-table trainer conference where Freddie Roach (Manny Pacquiao’s trainer) and Floyd Mayweather Sr (Floyd Mayweather Jr’s trainer) met the media at separate times.

Following that, I spent a few minutes with former undisputed middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins and asked him who he was favouring?

“I think Pacquiao will cause problems to Floyd, that he’s not faced before, he’s not faced someone who has speed but has faster footwork, but don’t get me wrong, Pacquiao at the same time, has not faced someone like Floyd as well,” he said. “I say Floyd on points.”

Roach is still in the media area following my chat with Hopkins, and he is happy to tell me more about why he thinks his man will be the victor.

“Floyd keeps telling the media, that Manny has no idea what’s coming, well let me say, he doesn’t have any idea what’s coming on his way,” he said.

“I have never seen Manny this motivated for a training camp in our time together, he is relaxed and very happy, and I can’t wait for May 2nd”

As I prepare to leave the media area I see Paulie Malignaggi, who is making his boxing comeback at Amir Khan vs Chris Algieri’s undercard on May 29. When I told him I’ve come from Abu Dhabi, he gives me some intriguing news.

“Oh Abu Dhabi? You know I just met Roy Jones Jr he told me he is fighting there on June 6 and I was like, do they have boxing there? I was surprised. But it would be great, I would love to come down there.”

I have heard no news or confirmation on this but will obviously look to try to find out more about this speculation during the rest of my time in Vegas.

We are just two days away from the biggest fight in the history of boxing, Vegas is getting busier and busier, especially at the MGM Grand, satellite television vans are lined up in front of the Grand Garden Arena, you can feel the excitement in the air.

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T20 World Cup Qualifier

Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets

Qualified teams

1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman

T20 World Cup 2020, Australia

Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland

MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

Rooney's club record

At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17

At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253

Student Of The Year 2

Director: Punit Malhotra

Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal 

1.5 stars