TRAINER Freddie Roach is convinced Manny Pacquiao will fight smartly and should be able to stop Juan Manuel Marquez when they face off anew on March 15 (March 16 in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Council world super featherweight crown.

Roach said Pacquiao has turned into "a more balanced fighter," adding the Filipino ring icon has what it takes to win by knockout.

In their first meeting in 2004, Pacquiao knocked down Marquez thrice in the first round but the Mexican got up each time and finished the 12-round fight, forcing Pacquiao to rally to salvage a draw in their featherweight showdown for the WBA and IBF title.

"We had great success in the early rounds in our last fight, then Marquez came back. But now, Manny knows how to adjust better.  If Manny gets Marquez down this time, he’ll keep him down," Roach told boxingtalk.com’s Brad Cooney.

"We are going for the knockout. We have all intentions of knocking him out. After Manny’s last two fights, we need to fight a great fight. We are moving up in weight and going for those titles after this fight.

"Manny is very focused for this fight, and we are going to fight a smart fight. We are going for the knockout. I am sure Marquez is in great shape, and he better be."

Roach added his ward’s training is going very well, needing to shed off just nine pounds in a month, adding the flamboyant Filipino is all pumped up for the fight.

"We need to lose nine pounds with a month to go, so no problem at all. He’s eating good, he’s running good, his discipline is good. Manny is very focused, so don’t worry, we are not going to wait for the last minute to make weight, that’s for sure.

"He’s doing very well. I have been running with him in the morning, well... I have been running behind him in the morning, (laughs), and I can’t keep up with him," Roach said.

"I haven’t seen him this excited since the first time that he fought (Marco Antonio) Barrera. We have four weeks to go, and he’s looking very good.

The famous trainer, who had also handled the likes of Mike Tyson and Oscar de la Hoya, said Pacquiao on Saturday had nine rounds of sparring, facing three different fighters who are expected to help him get a feel of what they expect from Marquez.

"I have a strong guy to press Manny, I got a counter puncher, and I got a guy that will run, all to give Manny different looks. We know the keys to victory, and we’ll show you what they are on fight night," Roach said, adding they are bringing in someone who is said to be a Marquez "clone."

A former fighter himself, Roach said he expects Marquez to counter-attack, but doubts if he can pull it off.

"I think he will fight more of a counter punching style. I don’t see him capable of doing that though, the first fight with Manny took something out of him."

After their first encounter at the MGM Grand in 2004, Pacquiao defeated a battery of Mexican fighters, including big names Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. Marquez fought relatively low-key fights and even lost to little-known Indonesian Chris John in 2006, although he redeemed himself with wins over the ageing Barrera and Rocky Juarez.

"The best fight that I ever seen Marquez in was against Pacquiao, and he’ll need to fight like that again," Roach said.