So the new strategy?
Roach brings up the "knock him out" note and says no more.
Roach has lost Khan to Andre Ward's trainer, Virgil Hunter. Khan wanted to be No. 1 in Roach's camp, ahead of Pacquiao. Roach is asked if he considered that demand. He giggles.
Chavez was on a fight-to-fight contract with Roach, and they share no legal bind, although Chavez was quoted Friday as saying he wants to stay with Roach.
It has been well-documented that Chavez, a reputed lazy and undisciplined kid who became just the opposite for five straight winning fights with Roach, reverted to that reputation for the Martinez fight. On the pre-fight HBO commercial titled "24/7" that they laughingly call a documentary, Roach was shown waiting for a training session with Chavez, who had postponed and wanted Roach to come to his home and do the workout in the living room.
"If he wins the fight," Roach says, "we'd all be training in the living room."
Now, for Roach, it is all Manny, all the time. Besides, how much does a guy who can rent his own airplane really need Amir Khan and Chavez anyway?
"Manny takes losses well," Roach says. "After the Bradley fight, he gave me a hug and said, 'It's OK, coach. We'll make more money next time.'"
Pacquiao needs to know there is more at stake here than money. He needs to win for Roach to validate the family doctrine: Mother knows best.
