Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Is Terence Crawford Ready for a Possible Bout With 'Pacman?'
Is World Boxing Organization super lightweight champion Terence Crawford ready for a possible bout with Filipino boxing hero Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao?
Hall of Fame boxing coach Freddie Roach, the trainer of the eight-division world champion, thinks the Omaha, Nebraska native is not yet ripe enough for "Pacman," Fight Hype reported.
"I think it's a dangerous fight for Crawford right now...I don't think Crawford's developed enough...his last opponent...he was one of Manny's sparring partners and he never made it past two rounds," said Roach, who has been training "Pacman" for the last 15 years.
However, Roach did not hide his admiration for the younger boxer, whom he thinks is a great fighter. The trainer wants to see Crawford develop more of his potential in the game and grow as the best fighter he could be. He feels a fight with his own elite warrior will be too soon for Crawford.
Even the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr., who defeated the "People's Champ" via a unanimous decision on May 2 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas per BoxRec, has an advice to "Hunter," a separate article from Fight Hype reports. Mayweather shares that he "really, really" like the young WBO champ whom he regard as someone who "can really fight." Thus, the retired boxer made it a point to give Crawford some pointers if he gets to be Pacquiao's opponent.
"If Terence Crawford happens to fight Manny Pacquiao, I want to let him know that it's not going to be easy. Even though I know I made it look easy, it's not going to be easy," said Mayweather.
"He's a lot better than what I thought he was. From me being in the ring with Manny Pacquiao, I take my hat off to him and I can see why he went so far in his career," added "The Money."
Meanwhile, Mayweather Sr., trainer and father of "The Money," believes that Crawford has what it takes to bring down Manny Pacquiao when they meet inside the ring, notes On the Ropes Boxing Radio.
For Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, promoter of both fighters, Crawford deserves the opportunity to fight Pacquiao, basing on Crawford's impressive 10th-round stoppage victory against Dierry Jean on Oct. 2 in Nebraska, Boxing Scene informed.
Although Los Angeles Times says that there's a great chance Pacquiao may announce WBO welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley as his final foe, ESPN notes that Pacquiao has not informed the public of his chosen opponent on Friday, Dec. 11.
Is a Pacquiao vs. Crawford fight still possible?
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