By Edward Chaykovsky
Freddie Roach has warned that he would absolutely ask Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38KOs) to retire - if the Filipino star struggles in his next scheduled fight.
Pacquiao has been out of the ring since the May 2nd twelve round decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao suffered what was initially claimed to be a serious right shoulder injury during the fight. Questions have been raised as to the seriousness of the injury with Pacquiao not taking his post-surgery rehabilitation as seriously as his team wants him to.
Roach has been training Pacquiao since the boxer crossed over to the United States and began making a name for himself more than a decade ago.
Now closer to 40 than 30, Pacquiao wants to return in the first quarter of 2016. His promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank has mentioned several potential names including Amir Khan, Kell Brook, Lucas Matthysse and Terence Crawford.
Khan, who used to train side by side with Pacquiao, is the frontrunner. Some feel Crawford, because he shares the same promoter as Pacquiao, could be the likely second option in the running to get that opportunity.
If Roach advised him to retire, the trainer is pretty confident that Pacquiao would listen to him.
There is some talk that Pacquiao could walk away on his own, after one or two more fights, as his political career in the Philippines is becoming more serious.
"I didn't like how Manny looked in his last fight. I know there was an injury and so forth, but I think he could have did better in that fight. If he doesn't look good in his next fight, I think I would [tell him to retire]. I've always told Manny that if I thought he was slowing down and the reflexes weren't there, I would tell him," Roach said.
