By Rick Reeno
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas - According to trainer Freddie Roach, eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao has yet to make a final decision regarding his next opponent for early 2016.
One of the fighters in the running is WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, who is now being trained by Teddy Atlas.
Earlier this month, Atlas made his debut in Bradley's corner when the once-beaten champion defended his title against Brandon Rios. Their relationship got off to a very successful start with Bradley becoming the first fighter to stop Rios inside the distance.
Bradley has faced Pacquaio on two occasions. He won a controversial twelve round split decision in 2012, and then lost a twelve round decision to the Filipino star in their 2014 rematch.
After the knockout Rios, Atlas said he was very confident of Bradley's ability to beat Pacquiao in a trilogy fight.
Roach claims Atlas is consistently taking shots at him and talking bad about him behind the scenes.
"He thinks his fighter can beat my fighter because of him? I'd like to show him that he can't. Teddy doesn't like me and talks bad about me and digs me whenever he can," Roach said. "I don't think he likes me that much and I don't care either."
Roach was not impressed with Atlas' "firemen" corner speech to Bradley - which took place during the Rios contest.
"The thing is, this f***ing guy waits for the camera to get on him and then he starts doing the story. He knows the camera is right in front of him. But you know what, some of the fans really enjoy that bullsh*t," Roach said.
The rivalry started a long time ago, says Roach - when he was hired to replace Atlas as the head trainer of former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.
"When he quit as Michael Moorer's trainer and then [Moorer's manager] John Davimos hired me, [Teddy] came to the hotel the night before I was announced and beat [Davimos] up....broke his nose.... and then he looked at me, and I said 'I'm not John Davimos' and I stood there and he walked away," Roach said.