LAS VEGAS ? Manny Pacquiao may still have his hands full here Saturday against Jessie Vargas, but Freddie Roach has already begun envisioning the future.
A win over Vargas, especially if it comes in impressive fashion, could pave the way for another round of bigger fights for the 37-year-old Pacquiao, who is bent on proving that age doesn?t matter.
But Roach has singled out one possible match-up in his mind.
?The kind of fight I like? What’s his name, Canelo Alvarez?? a smiling Roach told Filipino scribes on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, shortly before they broke camp to head for Las Vegas.
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Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, of course, is the WBO super welterweight champion and considered as the current face of boxing following Floyd Mayweather Jr.?s retirement.
The mere mention of a Pacquiao-Alvarez bout was enough to make Roach?s eyes light up Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
?I would love that fight. We’ve fought big guys before and we’ve done well against them,? he added.
Indeed, Pacquiao is no stranger to colliding with much bigger guys, and Roach believes his prized ward can take on the heavy-handed Alvarez.
Pacquiao?s longtime trainer, however, has one condition.
?All we have to do is ensure that we put a cap on how much weight Alvarez gains after the weigh-in,? the multi-titled cornerman. ?If we can control that, it makes it a fair fight.?
?I feel Manny can outbox him very easily,? he continued, citing how Amir Khan fared well against Alvarez by boxing him well ? before getting knocked out by the more powerful Mexican in the sixth round of their showdown last May.
If Pacquiao takes care of Vargas, Alvarez indeed is his most lucrative option
?That would be a huge fight. It might even be bigger than the Mayweather,? said Roach.
