Freddie Roach gave a couple of reasons why Edwin Valero, the controversial knockout artist from Venezuela, is not the right opponent for Manny Pacquiao.
Not for now — at least.
“Valero is an attractive fighter. He’s a great puncher and so forth,” said Roach, referring to the 25-year-old boxer who has compiled an amazing 21-0 record, all by knockout.
“But the problem with Valero is that nobody knows him. And he couldn’t fight in America because of the injury they say he has,” added Roach, the American trainer who was in Manila recently.
Valero was involved in a motorcycle accident in Venezuela a couple of years back, and though everything seemed alright, he failed a medical in the US due to some “damage” on his head.
Valero is said to be seeking a second opinion.
“The doctors in New York said he can’t fight in the US. I mean, what if Manny hits him right and he dies? It happens in boxing,” added Pacquiao’s celebrated trainer.
Roach added that Valero being managed by Oscar dela Hoya’s father could be another factor, considering that Pacquiao recently junked Golden Boy in favor of Bob Arum’s Top Rank.
Roach, however, is not closing the door on Valero.
“When the chance comes, why not? Again, he’s a great and attractive fighter,” he said.
This early, there’s some bad blood going between Pacquiao and Valero after the Filipino superstar described the Venezuelan’s opponents as “tricyle drivers.”
Valero countered by saying he’s ready to face Pacquiao so the latter will realize that he, too, is a “cab (tricycle) driver.”
Instead, Pacquiao is poised to take on World Boxing Council featherweight champion Injin Chi of Korea on April 28 at the newly built Wynn Hotel in Macau.
Chi has decided to move up to 130 lbs for a crack at Pacquiao and of course the huge paycheck that should go with it. The 33-year-old Korean practically has nothing to lose here.
Roach said Pacquiao will train eight weeks for Chi, the first phase set at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, then in Manila or Cebu, until they wind up in Macau probably a week or two before the fight.
But while it’s Chi who’s in the picture, Roach said he still couldn’t take WBC super-featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera out of his mind.
“Barrera is still the fight I want. But Manny has already decided to face Chi. It’s his choice. And we have to live with that,” said Roach, now back in LA, attending to his gym.
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