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Freddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao must go all out for a lucrative showdown with Oscar De La Hoya, and would "annihilate him".
When the idea of Filipino icon Pacquiao facing the Golden Boy was first muted, it brought howls of derision from critics.
With Pacquiao then fighting at super-featherweight (130lbs) and Oscar up at light-middle (154) most thought it unlikely to say the least.
But with the Pacman having successfully taken the WBC lightweight title last month, and De La Hoya fighting Steve Forbes recently at 150, the idea has gathered steam.
And now Pacquiao's trainer Roach says fighting De La Hoya wouldn't just make financial sense, he also believes his man would overcome the size gap to notch a famous victory.
De La Hoya is currently trying to finalise an opponent for his farewell bout on December 6 after having to change his plans following the retirement of Fliyd Mayweather Jr.
And Roach told ESPN's website: "Oscar is looking for a fight. I think Pacquiao should fight Oscar next.
"Oscar says he has one more fight left in him. If we can get Oscar to come down to 147 pounds, I told Pacquiao that maybe we weigh in around 140 and by fight time we'll be up to 145. I would never take a fight I wasn't confident my guy could win. I'm very confident he could win.
"Oscar is older and he can't pull the trigger anymore. If Steve Forbes can land shots on Oscar like he did, Manny will hit him with ease. Manny will annihilate him, I feel."
After Pacquiao crushed David Diaz to make a spectacular debut at lightweight, it appeared his next bout would be against either Venezuelan knockout specialist Edwin Valero or Humberto Soto in November.
Roach however says a showdown with De La Hoya would make much more sense.
He continued: "Obviously, I want Manny to fight Ricky Hatton, but that fight isn't available right now because he's fighting in November, so let's fight Oscar. Manny could fight Oscar and then Hatton next year and retire as one of the greatest fighters of all time."
Roach already knows plenty about De La Hoya, having been in his corner for that split-decision defeat by Mayweather in Las Vegas in May 2007.
And that experience has only made him more certain that Pacquiao would have too many guns for Oscar.
"Oscar does have that great left hook, but it's one shot. Oscar gets tired. Manny gets stronger and stronger. It's a no-brainer to make this fight. I think we can knock Oscar out.
"I've been dreaming about him jumping on Oscar in the first round. I know Oscar won't last. If Manny fights at a Pacquiao pace, Oscar won't last."
When the idea of Filipino icon Pacquiao facing the Golden Boy was first muted, it brought howls of derision from critics.
With Pacquiao then fighting at super-featherweight (130lbs) and Oscar up at light-middle (154) most thought it unlikely to say the least.
But with the Pacman having successfully taken the WBC lightweight title last month, and De La Hoya fighting Steve Forbes recently at 150, the idea has gathered steam.
And now Pacquiao's trainer Roach says fighting De La Hoya wouldn't just make financial sense, he also believes his man would overcome the size gap to notch a famous victory.
De La Hoya is currently trying to finalise an opponent for his farewell bout on December 6 after having to change his plans following the retirement of Fliyd Mayweather Jr.
And Roach told ESPN's website: "Oscar is looking for a fight. I think Pacquiao should fight Oscar next.
"Oscar says he has one more fight left in him. If we can get Oscar to come down to 147 pounds, I told Pacquiao that maybe we weigh in around 140 and by fight time we'll be up to 145. I would never take a fight I wasn't confident my guy could win. I'm very confident he could win.
"Oscar is older and he can't pull the trigger anymore. If Steve Forbes can land shots on Oscar like he did, Manny will hit him with ease. Manny will annihilate him, I feel."
After Pacquiao crushed David Diaz to make a spectacular debut at lightweight, it appeared his next bout would be against either Venezuelan knockout specialist Edwin Valero or Humberto Soto in November.
Roach however says a showdown with De La Hoya would make much more sense.
He continued: "Obviously, I want Manny to fight Ricky Hatton, but that fight isn't available right now because he's fighting in November, so let's fight Oscar. Manny could fight Oscar and then Hatton next year and retire as one of the greatest fighters of all time."
Roach already knows plenty about De La Hoya, having been in his corner for that split-decision defeat by Mayweather in Las Vegas in May 2007.
And that experience has only made him more certain that Pacquiao would have too many guns for Oscar.
"Oscar does have that great left hook, but it's one shot. Oscar gets tired. Manny gets stronger and stronger. It's a no-brainer to make this fight. I think we can knock Oscar out.
"I've been dreaming about him jumping on Oscar in the first round. I know Oscar won't last. If Manny fights at a Pacquiao pace, Oscar won't last."
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