Sun.Star: Roach wants Pacquiao to face Guzman before Marquez

Manny Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach want Dominican Republic’s Joan Guzman as the next opponent for the Philippines’ national pride, according to a report posted on Sunday by Sun-Star Cebu. However, the deal has not yet been sealed as they are still waiting for the go signal from Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) and Sycuan Ringside Promotions — the co-promoters of Guzman, who is the World Boxing Organization super featherweight champion. Top Rank’s founder and chairman Bob Arum has been negotiating with GBP’s Richard Schaefer and Sycuan’s Glenn Quiroga to allow the undefeated Guzman to fight Pacquiao on October 6 in Vancouver, Canada. On a positive note, GBP executives Schaefer and Eric Gomez aren’t keen on holding back Guzman if the money offered by Arum and Top Rank is enough. Roach has also given the go signal for his prized fighter, Pacquiao, to fight Guzman, whom he earlier described as the only fighter in the super featherweight division who has the arsenal to beat Pacquiao. It seems Roach and Top Rank want Pacquiao to face Guzman first before the champ goes on a rematch against the WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao had earlier sent a letter to the World Boxing Council (WBC) asking it to name another mandatory challenger to Marquez, a move that drew a lot of flak not only from Pinoy fight fans but from the WBC president Jose Sulaiman himself. - GMANews.TV