Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Freddie Roach Eyeing Danny Garcia, Amir Khan for ‘Pacman’
Freddie Roach expects Manny Pacquiao to return stronger next year. And while the Filipino boxing icon is still recovering from an injury, the Hall of Fame trainer already has possible opponents in mind for his prized fighter.
Roach told Boxing News Online that he is open to pitting Pacquiao against either Danny Garcia or Amir Khan, when the former pound-for-pound king makes his return to the ring.
According to Roach, Garcia is his top choice for Pacquiao because the undefeated welterweight will be very appealing to boxing fans. But while he likes the Pacquiao-Garcia matchup, the veteran coach said that the former eight-division champion will run away with an easy victory.
Roach is familiar with Garcia because he trained Amir Khan during the two boxing superstars' showdown in July 2012. Khan lost to Garcia, but Roach said that it will be a different story if Pacquiao gets the chance to face the 28-year-old, predicting a knockout victory for the Filipino boxing superstar.
"I want Danny Garcia, that's my choice. That's the easiest fight," Roach said. "You can tell his dad [Angel Garcia] that as well. His dad psyched Amir Khan out but he won't psych Pacquiao out I promise. Pacquiao will knock Garcia out. I like the dad but he talks too much."
Garcia, who holds a perfect 31-0 record with 18 knockout victories, is coming off a ninth-round knockout victory against Paulie Malignaggi on Aug. 1 at in Brooklyn.
Meanwhile, Roach also said that they are open to facing Khan, who has talked about the possibility of facing Pacquiao in 2016. The 55-year-old trainer feels Khan and Pacquiao will bring the best out of each other.
"I'd definitely be interested in the fight," Roach said of the proposed Pacquiao-Khan match. "They're two fast guys, they have history as they've trained together, sparred a few rounds together and it's a good fight for both guys."
However, Roach is not sure if the fight will really be staged in Dubai like what most reports indicated over the past several weeks. He is unsure if the people behind the offer to hold the fight in Dubai are serious in their bid.
As for a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather, Roach said that Pacquiao, who took a unanimous decision loss to the reigning pound-for-pound king in May, will be ready to face his nemesis again.
Mayweather will face Andre Berto in September, which could be his last fight. Roach said, though, that he believes Mayweather will not retire after his next fight with Berto.
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