If Freddie Roach has his way, he would ask Manny Pacquiao to fight Erik Morales first before taking on Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch. Then, if the Filipino icon wins both fights, it would cement his status as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
That’s what the noted American trainer told the website boxingtalk.com on Tuesday, even as he emphasized that Pacquiao should not overlook another Mexican, Oscar Larios, when they meet on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Asked by the website’s Brad Cooney who between the two great fighters he would rather see “PacMan” fight first, Roach said: “I would like [for Pacquiao] to fight both of them, to be honest with you. I would like to get Morales first, and then get Barrera after that.”
“If Manny beats both of these guys (Morales and Barrera), both being Hall of Fame fighters, he will go down as one of the greatest Philippine fighters of all time, and one of the greatest fighters all time, there’s no doubt about that,” he added.
The left-handed bomber has defeated both sons of Mexico, wins that pushed his career to the stratosphere while boxing fans around the world await his rematches with them.
However, “The People’s Champion” must remain wary of Larios, the former World Boxing Council super bantamweight champion who is moving up to the 130-pound ranks, Roach said.
“A few Philippine reporters made me mad a little bit by calling this guy (Larios) a stiff,” he told boxingtalk.com. “This guy is a world champion fighter, and Manny will have to be in the same condition as he was when he beat Erik Morales.
“Larios has nothing to lose in this fight and everything to gain. Larios says he is more comfortable at 130lb, so we will respect this guy, and not take him lightly,” Roach said.
He also confirmed that Pacquiao, a two-time world champion himself, is headed to Los Angeles by May to train in Roach’s Wild Card gym. In June, Team Pacquiao heads back to the Philippines to resume training, most likely at a high-altitude camp in Baguio City.
The American trainer added that he looks forward to meeting his ward’s Filipino fans, that the fight is going to be the “Thrilla in Manila 2” with a great atmosphere, “and Manny Pacquiao will be ready to take care of business.”
Pacquiao dealt Morales the first knockout loss of his storied career by stopping him in the 10th round on January 21 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The victory allowed him to avenge his unanimous-decision loss to “El Terrible” in their first meeting on March 19, 2005, at the MGM Grand Hotel also in Las Vegas, and also gave him the World Boxing Council International super featherweight title.
That landmark triumph by the General Santos City native came 16 months after his stunning 11th-round TKO of Barrera on November 15, 2003, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, which pushed him to the top of the featherweight ranks.
