Casual Talk via HOLLYWOOD, California – If recent statement of Freddie Roach, trainer of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, were to be taken in the context of building a better marketing concept, then he must have perceived the wrong notion of his prot?g?’s supreme relevance in the current world of boxing.
According to an article published Monday (Philippines) by ABS-CBN, Roach said, “We want that fight badly. We agreed to everything he asked for the least (sic)time… and nothing happened.” He was referring to the purported fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Joy Mayweather, Jr.
But, Pacquiao says, “I am okay even without a Mayweather fight. I have done enough in boxing.”
And for Roach, he wants Pacquiao-Mayweather fight “badly”. Hm…it sounds like Roach ain’t too proud to beg at all! Sure, the same adverb serves as a modifier implying that Mayweather, Jr. really has the upperhand in the negotiation, at least that’s what surfaces from the subsconscious mind of one of the most well-known boxing trainers in the world who was voted Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2009, under the grace of Pacquiao’s starpower.
And did Pacquiao really agreed to what Mayweather, Jr. demanded other than the financial aspect of the fight deal?
Mayweather, Jr. insists, “First and foremost, not only do I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, I want to whip his punk ass.”
The final issueof their last negotiation early of last year was drug testing.
Pacquiao agreed to unlimited random urine testing, which the Nevada State Athletic Commission only subscribes, and anything beyond that is another factor in the negotiation. But Mayweather, Jr., who believes in the advancement of technology and is banking on a better and almost definitive test, also insisted on random blood testing up to fight night. He thought that such remedial Olympic style of random testing is the only fair means to put up a clean fight right from the start, being free from potential use of performance enhancing drugs, not just by Pacquiao but also by himself, the defensive party.
Now, back to Roach’s statement: Is Roach really that desperate to make Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happen? Unless ABS-CBN misquoted Roach on his supposition, Mayweather, Jr. thereon may have been the preeminent fighter based on his intimation. Yes – Too bad to be “badly” wanted!
Or, is it that Roachisresigning to find an answerabout Pacquiao without having a victory over Mayweather, Jr?
One thing, Roach can never find an answer unless he has a question about Pacquiao. And this leads to the mark of Mayweather, Jr.’s relevance in the sweet science of boxing, at least in our era.
