IGINIIT ni Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach na hindi papatok bilang major pay-per-view event kung magdedepensa ng korona si WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao kay WBC at WBO super lightweight titlist Terence Crawford ng United States.
Bagama’t kapwa nasa ilalim ng Top Rank Promotions, hindi aniya matunog sa boxing fans ang hidwaan.
Magdedepensa si Pacquiao kay undefeated 2012 Aussie Olympian Jeff Horn sa Hulyo 2 sa Suncorp Stadium sa Bribane, Australia, habang tatangkain ni Crawford na maging undisputed champion kung magwawagi sa unification bout kay WBA, IBF at IBO junior welterweight champion Julius Indongo.
Para kay Roach, mas gusto niyang labanan ni Pacquiao si three division world champion Mikey Garcia o si two division champion Danny Garcia na kapwa Mexican American.
Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!
“Who’s Terence Crawford?” pahayag ni Roach.
“Popularity-wise, I think Mikey Garcia is the best option, because it will pit Mexican versus Filipino, but I like Danny Garcia the best.”
“(Danny) came all the way to my gym and they don’t like me. But he shook my hand and said, ‘I want Manny Pacquiao. I said okay, but they got to talk to Michael Koncz and Manny,” diin ni Roach.
Para kay Roach, hindi magandang atraksiyon na isabak si Pacquiao sa black American fighter maliban kung si dating pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. ang makakalaban ng Pinoy boxer.
“Filipino against Mexican sells well, but Filipjno against black? It doesn’t sell well in America,” ayon kay Roach. “(Crawford) has audience, yes. In Nebraska, (where he comes from).” - Gilbert Espeña
