By Mark Vester
Trainer Freddie Roach was far from pleased when hearing about the controversy over the recent comments that were made by Bernard Hopkins, who pushed the issue as to when Manny Pacquiao would finally face a "top black fighter." During the interview with BoxingScene.com's Lem Satterfield, Hopkins said that an African American boxer, with a slick style of fighting, would be very capable of beating Pacquiao.
"Maybe I'm biased because I'm black, but I think that this is what is said at people's homes and around the dinner table among black boxing fans and fighters. Most of them won't say it [in public] because they're not being real and they don't have the balls to say it," said Hopkins.
"But I do think that a fighter like like the Ray Leonards or anyone like that would beat a guy [like Pacquiao] if they come with their game. Listen, this ain't a racial thing, but then again, maybe it is. But the style that is embedded in most of us black fighters, that style could be a problem to any other style of fighting."
When Anthony Andales, of philboxing.com, mentioned Hopkins' comments to Roach, the hall of fame trainer lashed out and advised Hopkins to keep his mouth shut. He then said Pacquiao would beat Hopkins if they met in the ring.
"After his last fight [against Roy Jones Jr.] he should just shut up. In fact, Manny can beat him," Roach was quoted as saying.
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