Roach won't accept Crawford for Pacquiao's ring comeback

CEBU, Philippines - Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach isn't sold out to the idea having the unified WBO/WBC junior welterweight title-holder Terence Crawford as opponent of his prized fighter Manny Pacquiao in his comeback fight tentatively set for November 5 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As the chief cornerman of Viktor Postol, Roach was a first-hand witness of Crawford's sharp punching skills and power that were on display when he easily outpointed the Ukrainian boxer to add the WBC belt to his WBO title last Sunday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

"It's a very tough match-up. Crawford showed that he can move for twelve rounds, he can run for twelve rounds. But  y'know, in between the running and so forth, when he does land punches he does land really powerful punches. He hurt my guy a lot. I know Postol's got a pretty good chin," said Roach in a report by Steve Kim of  boxingscene.com.

"So Crawford's a pretty good puncher, he hits hard and he moves very well and emulates (Floyd) Mayweather quite a bit, I think. I think he's like a young Mayweather, right now," added the amiable trainer.

Having scanned Crawford's ring craftsmanship, it seems that it doesn't feel right for Roach to accept the undefeated American double champion for Pacquiao in his highly-anticipated ring return.

Not just yet at this point.

"You know what, with Manny in the senate and I have to go to the Philippines and so forth to train him and with all the confusion going on – I don't think I'm going to accept that fight or want that fight right away. I mean give me one warm-up fight and give me a fight after that and we can talk," said Roach in the same internet report by Kim.

Roach had always been insistent that Pacquiao, who announced his retirement after mauling Tim Bradley for the third time last April, is good for at least two more ring appearances and that he is not  just fighting for the money.

Though already a Senator of the Philippines, Roach said Pacquiao will continue boxing because this is what he does best.

"Manny still knows what he does best and that's fighting," said Roach. "The thing is if you want to say politics is a popularity contest, which is somewhat true. I believe this is what makes Manny so popular – it's the boxing. It's not being senator or anything like that. He hasn't proved he's a good senator, yet. But I know he'll try hard because he wants to help the people." (EBV) (FREEMAN)