BAGUIO CITY ? Unless it will be for the ?Dancing with the Stars? title, famed trainer Freddie Roach said he would not agree to a fourth fight between his prized ward Manny Pacquiao and Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez.
According to Roach, a fourth battle between Pacquiao and Marquez will most likely be a boring bout to watch.
Roach said their familiarity with each other?s style will only force Pacquiao and Marquez to dance around the ring.
?They now know each other very well. Instead of fighting Marquez and go through a dance one more time, it?s better to face a fresh young blood coming up like this fight against (Timothy) Bradley, the young versus the old,? said Roach.
The five-time trainer of the year said he?d rather see Pacquiao fight the winner between Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz scheduled on June 23.
Roach believes either Berto or Ortiz will give Pacquiao a tough fight that will enhance his status as the sport?s true pound-for-pound king.
?That?s a compelling fight for Manny because they?re both young fighters and just came from a compelling fight so their next fight will be close,? said Roach.
Ortiz and Berto fought in a thrilling slugfest April of last year in a 12-round battle, where both boxers were knocked down twice apiece.
SOFT CHALLENGE. American Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is challenging Pacquiao but not to a fight inside the ring.
In a conference call Thursday morning, Mayweather told mediamen he wants Pacquiao to stand behind him and clean the sport of boxing.
Apparently, this is Mayweather?s way of dodging questions about him agreeing to a fight with Pacquiao.
Mayweather, however, continues to insist that Pacquiao should take the drug test for him to allow the fight to happen, something which the Filipino champion has long agreed to.
?I don?t worry about the (Pacquiao) fight not happening. If it was really all about Pacquiao, then I wouldn?t have had to fight 42 other opponents,? said Mayweather ? I?d just fight Pacquiao and become the greatest in the world. But it isn?t just about Pacquiao. It?s about everyone I?ve fought.?
Mayweather also said his he is in a strong frame of mind going into his 12-round title fight against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto despite his scheduled 90-day jail time starting in June.
?I try to turn a negative into a positive. When I see my family, my team and fans support me, it?s motivation. Going to jail can only make me mentally stronger. This is just an obstacle. Everyone has their good and bad days,? said Mayweather.
Mayweather will vie for Cotto?s World Boxing Association junior welterweight crown on May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
RUSSIAN ROULETTE. Roach is expecting Pacquiao to dominate opponent Tim Bradley because of the kind of sparring session the Filipino will undergo the next few weeks.
According to Roach, sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov will provide the habits and style that Bradley has as the Russian boxer has the natural abilities of the American champion.
Roach said Provodnikov is not just a mere sparring partner as he believes the Russian boxer has the tools to become a world champion.
?He is one of my fighters and fights similar to Bradley when he gets aggressive. He will help Manny a lot and he himself will get a lot of help from Manny,? said Roach.
The 28-year-old Provodnikov, from Beryozovo, Russia has a record of 21-1 with 14 knockouts. He is set to fight American Nick Casal on June 29 in New York.
?He is just a few fights away from becoming a world champion. That?s how good he is,? says Roach.
Provodnikov, who arrived here Monday morning and will start sparring with Pacquiao tomorrow.
Pacquiao is preparing for his coming fight, a 12-round welterweight title defense on June 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
