By Victor Salazar
New York - When Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KO’s) decides to return to the ring, his trainer Freddie Roach has stated on more than a few occasions that he would like the Filipino superstar to face former junior welterweight champion and now welterweight contender, Danny Garcia (31-0, 18 KO’s). Though Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank's Bob Arum, would like a fight with Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KO’s), Roach thinks the style matchup of Pacquiao-Garcia is more entertaining.
“That’s the fight I like,” Roach told the media on hand in New York at the Cotto-Canelo press conference. “I hope they try to make that. I think Danny Garcia-Manny Pacquiao is a much better fight then Pacquiao-Amir Khan. I’m a fight fan too. I like good fights. I think Pacquiao-Garcia matches up better than two speed guys going at it. He’s not afraid to let his hands go and is a good puncher it’d be a good fight.”
Garcia told Tha Boxing Voice in a video interview that his left hook would put Pacquiao to sleep like the one right hand that Juan Manuel Marquez placed on Pacquiao, sending him face first to the canvas in their fourth fight in 2012. Roach laughed off the comment and hopes they make the fight happen.
“Knockouts are a part of boxing,” laughed Roach. “He’s (Garcia) got a left hook and it knocked Amir Khan out. He’s not the greatest boxer in the world but he likes to let his hands go and he’s a very good puncher. I think it’ll complement Pacquiao’s style very much. “
Like Roach, Garcia's dad and trainer Angel Garcia is an outspoken trainer. Roach said he would welcome the war of words between the two
“Me and his dad get along very well. I know he talks a lot of sh*t but I can talk shit too.”