Ni: Gilbert Espena

IGINIIT ni Hall of Famer trainer Freddie Roach na magiging huling laban ni eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao ang rematch kay Jeff Horn ng Australia sa susunod na taon.

“I do want him to take the rematch with Jeff Horn,” sabi ni Roach sa Sky Sports. “That would be, I think, the best fight for him at this point and it looks like that might happen next year, early next year.”

Nilinaw niya na may alok si Top Rank big boss Bob Arum para harapin ni Pacquiao si undisputed light welterweight champion Terence Crawford ng United States pero nakikita niyang mas mainam ang rematch kay Horn.

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“We’ve got other offers to fight Crawford and some other guys. He’s close to the end yes, but he’s not finished yet though,” diin ni Roach. “He is still very dedicated, he works really hard and he puts 100 percent into training every day when we’re getting ready for a fight. I would like to see him retire after [a Horn rematch] because being a senator and a professional boxer is way too much. It’s two jobs that are very, very demanding. I would like to see Manny concentrate on being a great senator and then maybe a great president someday.”

Ang tanging problema sa laban nina Pacquiao at Horn ay ang lugar kaya may plano si Arum na itapat si Horn kay Crawford kung tutol ang Pinoy boxer sa Brisbane, Australia na talamak ang hometown decisions.

“[Manny should] Fight a rematch with Horn, otherwise retire,” naunang sinabi ni Roach sa TMZ.

“Fighters get old overnight, he did okay in the fight, but just okay, and just okay isn’t good enough.”

“I would like to see Manny retire after the rematch with Horn,” dagdag ni Roach. “But I have no control over that. I just think it’s very difficult at that age to get into the ring and face Terence Crawford and talented youngsters like that.”

Para kay Roach, malaking problema ang hating konsentrasyon ni Pacquiao sa boksing at politika.