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Roach mulls other options for Pacman
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 19, 2009 12:00 AM
HOLLYWOOD – There are still fights to be made, big fights, just in case Floyd Mayweather Jr. plays hard to get with Manny Pacquiao.
Freddie Roach said while a fight with Mayweather is the one people are talking about, there’s always a Plan B or a Plan C for the Filipino pound-for-pound champion and newly crowned WBO welterweight king.
The hottest trainer in the sport today, back in business at his Wild Card Gym three days after guiding Pacquiao to a historically sensational win over Miguel Cotto, already has in mind some very good options.
He said if the fight with Mayweather doesn’t happen, Pacquiao can face the winner between WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley and Haitian-American Andre Berto who climb the ring in Vegas on Jan. 30.
“Maybe the winner of that Mosley-Berto fight can be a great fight for Manny,” said Roach.
He said Mosley will be in for a tough fight against Berto, but whoever wins that fight stands a chance of facing Pacquiao next year and earn something they’ve never earned in their lives.
“That’s a very difficult fight for both sides,” he said.
Another name which Roach mentioned was that of Juan Manuel Marquez, the stubborn Mexican counter-puncher who, to this day, believes that he beat Pacquiao when they last met in March last year.
The first time they met in 2004, it was a draw, as controversial as Pacquiao’s split decision victory last year.
“Maybe we can do Marquez one more time and give him a rematch. We can fight anybody. Who knows. It will definitely be a big fight,” said Roach.
The problem with Marquez is that Pacquiao is no longer interested in facing him a third time, saying he seriously doubts if people would still come out and see the fight when there’s no more issue to settle.
In those two matches, Pacquiao has floored Marquez four times, thrice in the first round of their first meeting and once in the third round of their last fight. The Pinoy icon feels he’s got nothing more to prove against Marquez so why take the risk.
“May manonood pa ba kung Marquez? Baka wala nang manood (Would people come and watch a Marquez fight? I don’t think so),” said Pacquiao.
Roach disagreed.
“I think it’s the history they have. He almost got him last time. With the history they have, it makes me want to see. We can put that fight in Texas or maybe in the Philippines,” said Roach.
But Marquez, the great trainer said, should agree to fight Pacquiao at 145 lb.
“I like that weight for Manny,” said Roach.
And that’s for a fight with whoever’s out there, whether it’s Mayweather, Mosley, Berto or Marquez.
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 19, 2009 12:00 AM
HOLLYWOOD – There are still fights to be made, big fights, just in case Floyd Mayweather Jr. plays hard to get with Manny Pacquiao.
Freddie Roach said while a fight with Mayweather is the one people are talking about, there’s always a Plan B or a Plan C for the Filipino pound-for-pound champion and newly crowned WBO welterweight king.
The hottest trainer in the sport today, back in business at his Wild Card Gym three days after guiding Pacquiao to a historically sensational win over Miguel Cotto, already has in mind some very good options.
He said if the fight with Mayweather doesn’t happen, Pacquiao can face the winner between WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley and Haitian-American Andre Berto who climb the ring in Vegas on Jan. 30.
“Maybe the winner of that Mosley-Berto fight can be a great fight for Manny,” said Roach.
He said Mosley will be in for a tough fight against Berto, but whoever wins that fight stands a chance of facing Pacquiao next year and earn something they’ve never earned in their lives.
“That’s a very difficult fight for both sides,” he said.
Another name which Roach mentioned was that of Juan Manuel Marquez, the stubborn Mexican counter-puncher who, to this day, believes that he beat Pacquiao when they last met in March last year.
The first time they met in 2004, it was a draw, as controversial as Pacquiao’s split decision victory last year.
“Maybe we can do Marquez one more time and give him a rematch. We can fight anybody. Who knows. It will definitely be a big fight,” said Roach.
The problem with Marquez is that Pacquiao is no longer interested in facing him a third time, saying he seriously doubts if people would still come out and see the fight when there’s no more issue to settle.
In those two matches, Pacquiao has floored Marquez four times, thrice in the first round of their first meeting and once in the third round of their last fight. The Pinoy icon feels he’s got nothing more to prove against Marquez so why take the risk.
“May manonood pa ba kung Marquez? Baka wala nang manood (Would people come and watch a Marquez fight? I don’t think so),” said Pacquiao.
Roach disagreed.
“I think it’s the history they have. He almost got him last time. With the history they have, it makes me want to see. We can put that fight in Texas or maybe in the Philippines,” said Roach.
But Marquez, the great trainer said, should agree to fight Pacquiao at 145 lb.
“I like that weight for Manny,” said Roach.
And that’s for a fight with whoever’s out there, whether it’s Mayweather, Mosley, Berto or Marquez.
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