LOS ANGELES — While there’s no doubt in his mind that Manny Pacquiao remains the best fighter in the world pound for pound, trainer Freddie Roach warned the Filipino southpaw on Monday not to take Mexican Humberto Soto.
Roach reminded Pacquiao that Soto is as dangerous as Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.
“Soto is as good as Marquez and Barrera right now at this point in his career and I feel that and I know that’s a strong statement but I think he is good,” said Roach during a chat at the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Soto, 27, is the frontrunner in the race to land a lucrative bout with Pacquiao, according to Top Rank, which expects to name the opponent, date and venue of Pacquiao’s much-anticipated return anytime late this week.
Roach said Soto, who knocked out manny’s younger brother Bobby at Madison Square Garden in New York over the weekend, has the tools needed to become a star
“He is young and hungry and that’s make him dangerous,” said Roach, who, nevertheless is upbeat that Pacquiao is capable of beating Soto.
