By Ernest Gabion
Trainer Freddie Roach recently appeared on BoxingScene.com's official audio show, The Boxing Lab, and discussed the possible opponents to face WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (45-0, 31KOs) on June 16th in El Paso, Texas. The two fighters being considered are Andy Lee (28-1, 20KOs) and Vanes Martirosyan (32-0, 20KOs). Roach, who also works with Vanes, would Lee as the opponent.
"I would like to see Andy Lee as the opponent because I train Vanes, so of course it would be a lot easier for me. I would like to see Andy Lee. Vanes is 154-pounder, and Lee is a true middleweight. He has a good right hand and he's a little bit of a puncher and with him being a southpaw - that might give us a little problem here and there but I would like to see Andy Lee. Chavez is the world champion now and he to fight the best guys around," Roach said.
Roach doesn't believe Vanes will accept the fight for personal reasons.
"I don't really think Vanes would take that fight knowing that I might be in the other corner," Roach said.
But, Roach could see also himself working the corner of Vanes - if there was a training issue with Chavez - like the Mexican fighter possibly refusing to train in the Philippines, where Roach is scheduled to spend several weeks training superstars Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao for their upcoming fights.
