Photo credit: John Gurzinski/AFP/Getty Images

It’s been a long time coming, that sought-after stoppage.

We’ve become accustomed to hearing about it, about the strong level of its near certainty, from eternal optimist Freddie Roach.

And you think this time, in what could be Manny Pacquiao’s final curtain call, Coach Roach’s call for a KO isn’t coming?

To the contrary.

Even though Manny Pacquiao hasn’t scored a stoppage since he became a Congressman, on Wednesday, Roach told RingTV.com that his guy is whacking real, real hard and Freddie thinks a KO of Tim Bradley could be the ultimate curtain call on April 9.

But Freddie, it’s been a loooooooonnng time. Miguel Cotto in 2009 was the last victim. People hadn’t even begun begging to see a Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight yet!

“Yeah, (Pacquiao)’s not been a big puncher at 147,” said Roach, as mom Barbara took in the Wild Card scene today. “He knocks out all sorts of guys at 140. I don’t think he’s had one at 147. But, for this, he’s highly motivated. He wants to go out a shining star. I told him a KO means he’ll do better in the Senate race. With a KO, the country will go crazy,” said the seven-time BWAA Trainer of the Year and chief second of the 37-year-old fightmaster (57-6-2, 39 knockouts).

The trainer said that post-surgery right shoulder has held up more than well and said he thinks Pacquiao is “punching better than ever.”

Wait…He didn’t have some sort of bionics installed into his arm, did he?

“Nah, but, for the first two weeks, he was blasting me and I told him to save something for the fight.”

No sparring partners hit the deck in the Phillippines or here, however, so Roach will continue to crave that and talk that positivity on the power reservoir. Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) has an above-average chin to go with maniacal willpower, so I would not put money on a “Pacquiao by KO” bet. Then again, if “Pacman” really thinks a knockout grabs him the Senate seat…Stranger things have happened in the “Theater of the Unexpected.”

Michael Woods hasn’t scored a stoppage since he knocked out a podcast deal this week. This content editor still thinks Woodsy should name the show “Everybody Loves Coyote.” What? It has a ring to it!

SUBSCRIBE

You can subscribe to the print and digital editions of THE RING Magazine by clicking the banner or here. On the cover this month: Tyson Fury heads up the 87th Annual RING Awards as Fighter of the Year. You can also order the current issue, which is on newsstands, or back issues on our subscribe page.