World’s most popular boxing trainer Freddie Roach expressed his preference for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent after his scheduled bout with Ricky Hatton of England in Las Vegas on May 2, 2009. Roach is confident that Pacquiao will win over Hatton in their next fight which will be staged at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Roach’s wishes depend on whether Pacquiao will emerge as winner in his coming fight with Ricky Hatton and if Mayweather finally breaks his retirement from boxing.
If the scenario as pictured by Freddie Roach will fall in place, the Pacquiao-Mayweather match will indeed be the ultimate fight that boxing fans will truly enjoy.
Roach said that it’s going to be a difficult fight for Pacquiao. ‘I think Manny has a little more power while Floyd is a little better boxer. Style wise, it is a tough fight, one of the toughest fights out there for Manny, because of Mayweather style and movement. But I think it is a fight where Manny can push the issue and get him’. He commented in an interview published by Mlive.com
‘If Mayweather leans on the ropes with Manny, I think he’d be in trouble. Very difficult fight but a fight the world would love to see because they are both great fighters. The styles are good because you have the classic boxer against the puncher’. Roach added.
Manny Pacquiao has earlier announced his intention to retire from boxing with two or three more fights. Roach said that if the Mayweather-Pacquiao match eventually happens, then ‘Manny can call it a day’. By then he will have a lot of money to secure his family and then go into politics if he wants to. Roach added.
Freddie Roach is the boxing trainer of Manny Pacquiao.