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Roach lines up Pacquiao’s next fight in ‘09


MANILA, Philippines – From Miguel Cotto, Sugar Shane Mosley to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the sky's the limit now for Manny Pacquiao. Freddie Roach mentioned the name of the three boxing stars as the possible next opponent for Pacquiao, whom he wants to be back on the ring either by November or December. That easily gives the world pound-for-pound king at least six months to rest and prepare following his spectacular second round demolition of Ricky Hatton in their junior light-welterweight slugfest. For Roach, nobody can beat Pacquiao at this time of his career. “He’s in his prime right now. He’s on top of his game. He’s getting better all the time. Anyone in the world he can beat them all," said the three-time Trainer of the Year. Top Rank Promotion’s Bob Arum is already priming up a Cotto-Pacquiao fight late this year, saying Roach and the boxing icon will be at ringside of the Madison Square Garden in New York in June to personally watch the Puerto Rican champion fight Joshua Clottey for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. “If Cotto wants to come down a few pounds, then we could make that happen. If Mosley wants to come down a few pounds, we can make that happen," said Roach of the two welterweight champions. The American trainer is vocal enough in admitting that Pacquiao is perfectly suited at the light-welterweight class. As for Mayweather Jr? “I think he’s scared of Pacquiao," he said of the former pound-for-pound king who came out of retirement Saturday and booked a July 18 date with world lightweight champion and former Pacquiao nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez. “He could fight Manny Pacquiao. He just have to wait one day. He chose to pick Marquez," said Roach. The former boxer turned trainer added that they won’t tow the line and wait for any available opponent. “We’ll not gonna wait around for anybody. We’ll keep Manny busy," he said. – GMANews.TV
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