LAS VEGAS ? It?s not that Freddie Roach is looking past Adrien Broner. But the Hall of Fame trainer seemed to be looking ahead as he rattled off the names of boxers he would like Manny Pacquiao to face after Saturday at the MGM Grand.
First on the list is Floyd Mayweather, who beat Pacquiao when they met in May 2015 when the Filipino fought with an injured right shoulder.
Roach feels that an injury-free Pacquiao has what it takes to hand Mayweather his first loss in 51 fights.
No. 2 is Keith Thurman, the WBA Super champion.
?I?d like him also for Manny,? said Roach.
Also mentioned was the winner of the March 16 fight between champion Errol Spence and Mikey Garcia for the International Boxing Federation title; even Shawn Porter, the reigning World Boxing Council titlist, is also being looked at.
Roach revealed that he wanted to bring in Porter as a sparmate but Pacquiao advised him not to.
?Manny said we might eventually fight Porter,? said Roach.
Porter boxed long rounds during sparring with Pacquiao years ago in the Philippines and in Los Angeles and Pacquiao felt uneasy with the prospects of working with a potential foe.
Porter is also scheduled to defend his crown against Yordenis Ugas of Cuba on March 9 and a victory will make him a candidate for the Pacquiao sweepstakes, that is, if Pacquiao gets past Broner this weekend.
Roach admits there are plenty of big names available for Pacquiao but brushes off the idea of pulling off a stunt.
?No, not against a kickboxer,? said Roach, referring to Mayweather?s circus act with a Japanese kickboxer in Tokyo on New Year?s Eve 2018.
