Boxing:Freddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao will become the first man to stop Joshua Clottey inside the distance on March 13th. The Pacman could have been preparing right now for a megafight against Floyd Mayweather Jr, but that fell through when the pair failed to agree on drug-testing procedures.
Instead the tough Ghanaian Clottey gets the chance to take on the reigning P4P king inside the gleaming Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Clottey presents a tricky assignment for Pacquiao, but the Filipino icon has so far passed every test with flying colours since moving up to welterweight.
First he destroyed Oscar De La Hoya in December 2008, sending the 'Golden Boy' into retirement on his stool after eight one-sided rounds.
And then last November he beat Miguel Cotto to a pulp in stopping the Puerto Rican in the 12th and final round.
Roach says Pacquiao has again worked himself into phenomenal shape ahead of the March 13th showdown, and is confident of another victory.
He said: "Manny Pacquiao is in great shape. We boxed 11 rounds yesterday with four different sparring partners. He is looking really good and he's got the game plan in place. We were so sharp yesterday I almost wanted to give him a day off but Manny won't take a day off."
While Pacquiao has been pretty much perfect in rising to the top of the P4P tree during the last two years, Roach has a chilling warning for his future opponents.
"Manny is getting better all the time and he still wants to improve," he said.
"We are getting better at making the moves. We have watched a lot of tape on Clottey. We know his characteristics, we know his mistakes and we know his habits. I do feel that the way Manny Pacquiao is training for this fight, the game plan and how to beat Clottey is in place.
"I know Clottey is a big strong guy and a great fighter and we respect him and he's a real tough guy but with many Pacquiao I feel that he's going to overwhelm him with his speed and his combinations and I do believe he will be the first person to stop him before the 12th round."
While Pacquiao was breathtaking in his demolition of Cotto last time out, Roach does believe he can make improvements for the clash with Clottey.
"I don't want to be on the ropes as much as we were in the Cotto fight. Clottey is very effective on the ropes and will throw uppercuts from that position. We are working on not being there when he is trying to counter-punch. Clottey likes to lay on the ropes and counter when we are finished a combination, but we're not going to be there - he's not going to find us."
Pacquiao meanwhile is his usual laid-back self as he prepares to head for Texas next week.
He said: "I am good; I'm just finishing jogging and sit-ups. Training camp is good and yesterday we sparred 11 rounds then I hit the bag a couple of rounds. Everything is great. I know Clottey is taller and bigger than me. I know I can't underestimate him because his is a former world champion also."