Roach: Pacquiao Told Me He Will Select Next Opponent

By Edward Chaykovsky

Freddie Roach, trainer for eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38KOs), is worried that his boxer's right shoulder injury is not fully healed.

Pacquiao first injured the shoulder during training camp for the May super-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Pacquiao further injured the area during the fourth round of the fight and lost a twelve round unanimous decision. He had surgery a few days later.

Pacquiao had an MRI on the shoulder, and told his promoter that everything looks fine.

Those images are not enough to convince Roach. He wants to have Pacquiao evaluated prior to a planned ring return in the first half of 2016. Pacquiao wants to begin training for the contest in the coming months and may start light training as early as December.

“I want to look at that arm first,” Roach said to the Philippine Star. “Normally, yes, I will see it once we get in that ring [to train]. I can tell if he’s sore or if he gets tired."

The opponents being considered include Amir Khan, Terence Crawford, and Timothy Bradley if he beats Brandon Rios next month.

Roach recently spoke to Pacquiao, who plans to make the final decision on the boxer he's facing next. Pacquiao says the upcoming contest will be the final fight of his pro career, with the Filipino star moving forward with a scheduled run for a senate seat in the Philippines.

“Manny told me he will be the one to decide whom he wants to fight and when he’s ready to fight,” Roach said. “But I want to see that arm."