MANILA, Philippines - If famed American trainer Freddie Roach has his way, it would be wise for Manny Pacquiao to end his illustrious career with victories over Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“If he retires after this (Cotto) fight I’ll be fine with that also,” Roach told the Inquirer over breakfast at the Manor Hotel in Baguio City Monday.
“If negotiations with Mayweather fail and Manny wins against Cotto, he’ll be having seven world titles. Nobody has done that before, so there’s nothing else to prove.”
Pacquiao is preparing to challenge Cotto for the Puerto Rican’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas. And Mayweather, a recent winner over Juan Manuel Marquez, looms as the Filipino superstar’s possible next foe next year.
Roach, who considers Pacquiao not only as his best fighter ever but a true friend, said his fame as a trainer is strengthened by his association with the General Santos lefty.
“Even though I’d be losing my best fighter, I would love to see him retire on top of the world,” said Roach. “A lot of people tried to get rid of me along the way but not Manny Pacquiao.”
“He’s been very loyal to me and I to him. We’ve had a great relationship and we’re going to be friends for life, that’s for sure.”
Recently, American promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao will be raking in more money if the Filipino ring icon wins a congressional seat in Saranggani province in next year’s elections.
The astute promoter even plans to christen Pacquiao “The Fighting Congressman,” a moniker which doesn’t excite Roach any.
Arum named Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero, up-and-coming Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and Sugar Shane Mosley as potential foes of Pacquiao next year.
“There are lots of good fighters out there,” said Roach. “And the way Manny’s going right now, I think he has maybe a year or two in him if he really wants to do that.
“But the thing is, if he wants to get into politics, he needs to do that full time because as a politician there’s a lot of work in there. That’s why I don’t need him to do both.”
Another concern for Roach—who endures Parkinson’s disease as a result of an extended ring career—is seeing Pacquiao end up being the springboard to fame of young, up-and-coming boxers.
“I’ve seen many sad stories about fighters staying around too long and end up getting beat and being the stepping stone [of others]. I won’t allow that to happen because he is such a great kid,” added Roach.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s sparring session is expected to start Tuesday with the arrival of sparring partners Shawn Porter, an undefeated American welterweight campaigner and Mexican-American Urbano Antillon over the weekend.
Source: http://sports.inquirer.net/professional/professional/view/20090929-227376/Roach-not-looking-past-Cotto-Mayweather
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