IF ONLY top trainer Freddie Roach has the final say, he would rather see Manny Pacquiao square off with Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico first before Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic, who Roach describes as “the most dangerous fighter out there (for Pacquiao).”
“It’s not that I don’t think Manny will beat Guzman but a rematch with Barrera is more attractive right now and I would like to see Manny fight (someone like Barrera) before a big one,” Roach said yesterday in an overseas call from the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said the 31-year-old Guzman, unbeaten in 27 fights with 17 victories by way of knockout, is the frontrunner in the race to become Pacquiao’s foe on Oct. 6 at a venue yet to be determined.
Guzman is promoted by Sycuan Promotions although Golden Boy Promotions has also a stake in the fighter once nicknamed “Little Tyson.”
“People would like to see Pacquiao fight Barrera and if Manny knocks him out then Barrera retires,” Roach said.
“Then we fight Guzman or (Juan Manuel) Marquez,” with Guzman getting praises from Roach, who thinks the New York-born Guzman, “though not a big puncher as Pacquiao, remains a very tough fighter.”
Regardless of who Pacquiao meets in October, Roach says he would like to see the 28-year-old Filipino lefty report for training “eight weeks before the fight.”
“That should be enough,” said Roach.
Apart from Guzman and Barrera, also on the hit list of Top Rank are Humberto Soto of Mexico and Edwin Valero of Venezuela.
“Arum wants Soto (for Manny) because of the revenge angle but we will not let that happen,” said Roach on the premise that Soto beats Manny’s younger brother Bobby on June 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“I have been training Bobby for over a week now and he’s been looking very good. Instead of Soto fighting Manny, we might end up having the two brothers fight (each other),” Roach said.
But when the topic shifted to Pacquiao’s disastrous political showing, the mood made a 360 degree turn.
Roach said the boxer should not feel bad and instead forget about what happened and focus once again on boxing.
“Obviously Manny is disappointed, but he shouldn’t be,” Roach said, his voice sounding as if he’d just been told about the death of a loved one.
“The people want him in a boxing ring at this time and there’s time to do politics and I believe he’ll be a congressman after his (boxing) career is over.”
“It’s just too much to do both (politics and boxing),” added the 47-year-old Roach, who communicated with Pacquiao via text messages during the election period.
“After boxing, Manny can concentrate on politics,” Roach said.
