Speed kills ... but which speed?

Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, had said before his fighter’s showdown with Oscar De La Hoya on Saturday that speed would determine the winner.

He might not have meant what you think, however.

“Oscar has no foot speed,” he said. “I told people speed would win the fight. I didn’t mean hand speed, though; I meant foot speed. He was in and out all night. He hit Oscar with combinations and then get out of the way. It was just that Manny had the perfect style for De La Hoya.”

Also, Roach won’t argue with the contention that De La Hoya made a mistake by maintaining a low weight throughout his training camp. De La Hoya was at weight more than a month before the fight, weighed in at 145 pounds and then gained only two pounds by fight time.

“Hey, they signed the contract (to fight at 147),” he said. “He made 147. His nutritionist made him eat deer meat and antelope, all protein and no carbs. If there were mistakes made, they made them. They didn’t carb him up; they didn’t put enough weight back on.

“It’s not Manny’s fault. He had no trouble making weight. I just don’t think anyone should take away from Manny’s performance.”