Seven-time BWAA Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach is hopeful a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch would still happen despite reports from Mayweather’s camp that the unbeaten champ isn’t in the mood to continue fighting after announcing his retirement last year.
In an interview with ‘On the Ropes’ host Jenna J, Roach said Pacquiao made an impressive performance during his third fight against Timothy Bradley and he is convinced that given another opportunity to face Mayweather for the second time, he would be victorious. Asked if he realy believes the rematch will still happen down the road, Roach said he believes so because Mayweather has shown interest in making the fight based on his actions which include some courtesy calls in his Wild Card Boxing Club. “That?s probably the only reason that we?re staying in the game, because we do want a rematch with Mayweather and we would like to get that. Mayweather has been to my gym a couple of times and I saw him at a restaurant in LA one time and he took pictures with my friends, he was very polite and very nice,” Roach said on otrboxing.com. In one of those casual meetings, Roach said Mayweather told him that he hasn’t been to the gym since his last fight against Andre Berto last year which could be taken to mean that he isn’t ready for a comeback fight within the year. “Mayweather told me he hasn?t trained a day since he retired and I said, ?Hey, I thought you were a gym rat, you?re always in the gym,? and he said, ?I haven?t worked out a day since I retired.? I told him, ?There?s still some big fights out there for you.? I didn?t ask him about Manny at all but I don?t know the real reason why he?s coming by to visit. He doesn?t want me to be his trainer I don?t think, but I thought maybe it was for him and Manny to get together one more time,” Roach said. Given the opportunity, Roach said he is sure Pacquiao will destroy Mayweather based on his impressive performance against Bradley which confirms that Pacquiao has fully recovered from his shoulder injury.
