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Straight talk with Freddie Roach
Story by Anthony Springer Jr.
Photo by Chris Cozzone
With the clock ticking away until rising star Amir Khan squares off against Marcos Maidana, all eyes in the boxing world still seem to be on the Brit’s high profile training partner, Manny Pacquiao.
Several men have punched their ticket in an effort to be the next man punched by “Pac Man,” but let trainer Freddie Roach tell it, only one fight makes sense right now—and it’s not the one you might think.
Floyd Mayweather is likely to be boxing against the long arms of the law for the foreseeable future, so the super fight the world is waiting for is likely off the table. Juan Manuel Marquez campaigned openly for a third fight after beating Michael Katsidis, but was summarily dismissed by Roach as being too small for Pacquiao’s growing stature.
Fresh off a one punch finish of Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez may get the super fight his camp wants if Roach has his way.
“I’d like to see him fight [Sergio] Martinez at the right weight,” Roach said last night during a media roundtable. “[Floyd] Mayweather, with what he has going on in his life right now; I think he has to handle that before he can even talk about fighting. Sergio Martinez at the right weight I think can be the most exciting fight out there.”
While Roach clearly favors his fighter, he tossed a bit of lighter fluid on the brush fire surrounding a potential bout between the two men.
“He’s a good athlete,” Roach said, sizing up Martinez. “I don’t think he’s a great fighter. He’s fast.”Roach’s straight talk effectively laid to rest any idea of Juan Manuel Marquez getting a third bout with Pacquiao. At the press conference following his win over Michael Katsidis, Marquez donned a “Pacquiao Your [sic] Next” shirt.
“I honestly think Marquez,” Roach said before cutting off his thought. “Manny’s not going to fight below 147 and [Marquez is] just too small.”:
Those who decry Pacquiao not fighting at a lower weight class don’t have to train or deal with the fighter—something Roach says is the catalyst behind the strict weight limit.
“I’m not going to have him making weight. When he’s making weight, he’s not the same person. He’s a much better person when he’s happy. 147 is as low as he’ll go.”
Story by Anthony Springer Jr.
Photo by Chris Cozzone
With the clock ticking away until rising star Amir Khan squares off against Marcos Maidana, all eyes in the boxing world still seem to be on the Brit’s high profile training partner, Manny Pacquiao.
Several men have punched their ticket in an effort to be the next man punched by “Pac Man,” but let trainer Freddie Roach tell it, only one fight makes sense right now—and it’s not the one you might think.
Floyd Mayweather is likely to be boxing against the long arms of the law for the foreseeable future, so the super fight the world is waiting for is likely off the table. Juan Manuel Marquez campaigned openly for a third fight after beating Michael Katsidis, but was summarily dismissed by Roach as being too small for Pacquiao’s growing stature.
Fresh off a one punch finish of Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez may get the super fight his camp wants if Roach has his way.
“I’d like to see him fight [Sergio] Martinez at the right weight,” Roach said last night during a media roundtable. “[Floyd] Mayweather, with what he has going on in his life right now; I think he has to handle that before he can even talk about fighting. Sergio Martinez at the right weight I think can be the most exciting fight out there.”
While Roach clearly favors his fighter, he tossed a bit of lighter fluid on the brush fire surrounding a potential bout between the two men.
“He’s a good athlete,” Roach said, sizing up Martinez. “I don’t think he’s a great fighter. He’s fast.”Roach’s straight talk effectively laid to rest any idea of Juan Manuel Marquez getting a third bout with Pacquiao. At the press conference following his win over Michael Katsidis, Marquez donned a “Pacquiao Your [sic] Next” shirt.
“I honestly think Marquez,” Roach said before cutting off his thought. “Manny’s not going to fight below 147 and [Marquez is] just too small.”:
Those who decry Pacquiao not fighting at a lower weight class don’t have to train or deal with the fighter—something Roach says is the catalyst behind the strict weight limit.
“I’m not going to have him making weight. When he’s making weight, he’s not the same person. He’s a much better person when he’s happy. 147 is as low as he’ll go.”
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