Philippines, 30 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Manny will fight anybody, if price is right -- Roach


PhilBoxing.com



LOS ANGELES, CA ? Bring on everybody. We?re not afraid to fight anybody.

This in a nutshell was how four-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach reacted to insinuation that world eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao is avoiding fighting African-American.

?We?re not ducking anybody. We?ve been very vocal about that. Manny has said that often. I have said that many times,? Roach said by way of reacting to a statement made by Bernard Hopkins that the reigning junior welterweight and junior middleweight belt-holder has not faced top African-American fighter.

He then mentioned names he said Pacquiao might possibly fight in his next outing ? World boxing organization and World boxing Association lightweight titleholder Juan Manuel Marquez, World boxing Council welterweight kingpin Andre Berto, six-time champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. five-time titlist Shane Mosley and even the winner between WBC junior-welter champ Devon Alexander and WBO counterpart Tim Bradley who are facing each other on Jan. 29.

Roach, who just guided Pacquiao devastate Mexican Antonio Margarito barely two weeks ago for the WBC super-welterweight title, brandied Hopkins? statement as racist.

?I don?t know why some people make racist statements like that. Wed don?t need those kind of statements in boxing. Bernard should know that boxing is not about skin color. It?s about business,?? he emphasized.

?We never ducked anybody. We fought everyone that came our way. Everybody knows that. Bernard is my friend we?ve worked together in the past. He should know that, too. He should know that boxing is about making the fights that will make money,? he said. ?It?s about economics.?

?We won our first title against Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, a South African. We also beat Joshua Clottey, who is from Ghana. So, we?ve beaten two black guys. This is sport, let?s get on with sport,? Roach said.
?So, we?ve beaten two black guys. But this is sport, so, let?s get on with the sport,? he pointed out.

?Mosley is another black American, who we are considering to be one of Manny?s opponents. He hasn't looked that good in his last couple of fights, but he's still a very good fighter. He's a very good possibility to be Manny's next opponent, ? he intimated.

Asked why he thinks a third fight with Marquez is more profitable than the others he mentioned, Roach answered: ?Because Manny and Marquez have history between them. You know, they've fought twice, and they were close fights.?
?Marquez knows Manny and knows what gives Manny trouble. Marquez has proven that in two fights. Both fights went the distance. Marquez has been down four times in the two fights, but he's gotten up and made the fight. Marquez is a very durable guy and he's got an audience and a fan base behind him. So he's marketable.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 60 Years of Top Rank: Bob Arum’s First Fight Launched a Boxing Empire
    , Mon, 30 Mar 2026
  • Lebron James and son Bronny make NBA History
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 30 Mar 2026
  • Bryan Acosta Wins WBA Continental Americas Featherweight Championship with Unanimous Decision over Ronny Rios in Main Event of ProBoxTV from Thunder Studios in Long Beach
    , Sun, 29 Mar 2026
  • Filipino boy, 9, wins in Canada chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Mar 2026
  • Vagabov and Ziyaev crowned champions at IBA Bare Knuckle 4 in Saint Petersburg
    , Sun, 29 Mar 2026
  • Sherwin Tiu captures Kamatyas Open Chess crown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Mar 2026
  • Fundora vs Thurman: Can Keith Thurman Shake Off The Rust?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Albert Ramirez Against Lerrone Richards for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight World Title on June 4 in Montreal!
    , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • GM Daniel Quizon is the Favorite in 19th Kamatyas
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ‘Acosta vs. Rios’ Event from Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif., and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: WBC maintains priority of the defense of fighters
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Barrière and Akdeniz win in Montreal
    By Eric Armit, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Jesse Espinas and Leboy Atencio Ready to Rumble in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV (Weigh-in Photos)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Matchroom Boxing announces new long-term contract extensions for two top UK fighters
    , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Thananchai Decisions "Lucky Boy" Alicaba
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Suslenkov to defend WBA continental title against Mann at IBA.PRO 16 in Serpukhov
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • SBA Builds the Future of Billiards with SBA Next and Official Pool Hub Network
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • Don King Productions Announces Challenger for Reigning WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Noel Mikaelian
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • 11-0 Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor developing his skills at Deontay Wilder and Andrii Novytskyi
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • IBA welcomes the victory of common sense in the IOC policy on protecting women
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • Genetic Testing will be required in Olympic Games
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • “Lucky Boy" Alicaba Ready for Action Friday in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • WBO & WBA World Champion René “El Chulo” Santiago Hosts Open Media Workout Ahead of April 3 Title Defense in Tokyo
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • Former WBA FEDELATIN President Panamanian Aurelio Fiengo passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • The 19th edition of the Kamatyas Rapid Open and Kiddies Chess Tournament on March 28, 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.