By Lem Satterfield

Freddie Roach, trainer for Manny Pacquiao, has responded to the recent claims that were made by Bernard Hopkins. According to Hopkins, Pacquiao has been kept away from top African American boxers who fight with a slick style. Hopkins believes the slick style of a top African American boxer, like Floyd Mayweather Jr., would easily beat Pacquiao. However, the list of possible candidates for Pacquiao's next fight is mostly comprised of top African American boxers. 

"We've fought everyone out there. We've ducked nobody. Shane Mosley [who is African American] is another guy out there right now. I know that he hasn't looked that good in his last couple of fights, but he's still a very good fighter. He's a very good possibility to be Manny's next opponent," Roach said.

"I don't think that Bernard Hopkins has beaten any Canadians lately [reference to Hopkins' upcoming bout with WBC light heavyweight (175 pounds) champ Jean Pascal on Dec. 18.] And Bernard's never beaten an English guy [lost to Joe Calzaghe] because he's only fought one."

Roach considers Hopkins a friend, but doesn't understand the former champion's reasons for making the statements that he did about Pacquiao. Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, Pacquiao's business manager Michael Koncz, and Roach, are in full agreement that Pacquiao's fights are determined by economics and not skin color.

"Bernard, you know, he's my friend, and so forth, because I've worked with him in the past. But I don't know why people make racist statements like that. We don't need that stuff in the world of boxing. I think Bernard knows that it's all about business and that it has nothing to do with color," Roach said.

"It's all about the best deals, the best fight that makes the most economic sense. It has nothing to do with [skin] color. We won the title from [Lehlohonolo] Ledwaba, a South African, and we beat Joshua Clottey, who, I'm not sure what Clottey is. He came from England by way of Ghana, I think. So, with those two, we've beaten two black guys. But this is a sport, so lets get on with the sport."

Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.