Who Roach thinks Pacquiao should fight next

By ABS-CBNnews.com

May 29, 2014

MANILA – Boxing coach Freddie Roach has shared his thoughts regarding his preferred opponent for prized pupil Manny Pacquiao.

Given the lack of movement for possible fights against Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roach has offered an alternative foe suitable for the fighting congressman.

“I don’t hear any negotiations going on for that fight,” Roach told Boxing Scene when asked about a fifth Marquez bout. “If you ask me for other opponents right now… I’d say I’d like the fight against Danny Garcia.”

Garcia, who fights under Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), is an undefeated Puerto Rican-American fighter who rules as the WBC, WBA, and RING light welterweight champion.

Among his victims are familiar names, including Amir Khan and Erik Morales. Khan was a former training partner of Pacquiao, while Morales is a Mexican great who figured in a boxing trilogy with the Filipino superstar.

Roach might have figured the timing right as the once thorny relationship between Top Rank’s Bob Arum and GBP’s Oscar dela Hoya has improved.

“The feud in between is all [expletive],” said the boxing trainer. “Let’s negotiate the deal.”

“I’ll make a deal with the devil if I have to… I mean, if it’s a good deal, it’s a good deal.”

Meanwhile, Roach also shared his thoughts about a possible bout between Pacquiao and his other pupil, “Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov.

He said he won’t get in the way of the fight if Provodnikov really wants it.

“His promoter came to me and asked me, ‘Will you please let that fight happen?’” said Roach. “I said if that’s what you want we’ll do it. But it will split me and Ruslan up, he’ll get a new trainer and so forth.”

“I’d like see him make a payday so if they decided to do that, it’s not dead. It could happen, yes.”