Manny Pacquaio trainer Freddie Roach has told intimates that he wants to keep the Pacman away from a fight with undefeated WBO junior lightweight champion Joan Guzman at all costs.
In recent weeks, the Boston-born trainer has been repeating that, after conquering Marco Antonio Barrera this Saturday night, Pacquaio needs to next point to WBC champion and fellow Golden Boy Promotions chattel, Juan Manuel Marquez.
Of course, that?s the music Oscar de la Hoya loves to hear Coach Roach singing even though GBP shares promotional rights to Dandy Dominican Guzman with his lead promoter, Sycuan Ringside Promotions.
Guzman faces Top Rank?s Mexican brawler Humberto Soto Nov. 17 at the Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, and Roach has jokingly told friends he hopes ?Guzman gets knocked off so I don?t have to worry about him anymore.?
In the past, Roach has publicly and privately said that Guzman?s fast hands and fleet feet are all wrong for the hard-hitting but not graceful Pacquaio?s style. It?s nothing personal, Coach Roach has said, just a bad style matchup for his guy.
Guzman manager Jose Nunez said that eventually Guzman-Pacquaio will be made.
“Hey, we’re not looking past this bad hombre named Soto, not at all,” Nunez said. “Our focus is on business at hand and Guzman and Floyd Mayweather Sr. are focusing night and day on Humberto. Fighting this character is no day at the beach, we know that.
“But look at the message boards on Pacland and all over the Internet,? Nunez said, ?people want to see Manny and Guzman mix it up. After Joan whips Soto, the fans will go into a frenzy and I have to think HBO, Golden Boy and Sycuan will all hear the tune. When the fans all over the world start demanding a fight, the power brokers will get moving.?
As an example, Nunez cited the Nov. 3 Mikkel Kessler-Joe Calzaghe super middleweight title unification bout. The manager said it was public demand that caused that titanic battle to be made.
?The night will come,? Nunez said, ?when Guzman puts on a spectacular show in defeating the great, and he is great, Pacman.?
