Pacquiao-Thurman aprub kay Roach

MANILA, Philippines — Aprubado ni Hall of Famer Freddie Roach kung si Keith Thurman ang sunod na makakaharap ni reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) regular welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

Ipinagmalaki ni Roach na walang uurungang kalaban si Pacquiao lalo pa’t nagbalik na ang bangis nito na tunay na nakita sa kanyang huling dalawang laban partikular na kay Adrien Broner kamakailan sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

At magandang pagkakataon na makaharap ni Pacquiao si Thurman na sariwa pa sa matagumpay na pagdepensa ng kanyang WBA super welterweight title laban kay Josesito Lopez.

“He (Pacquiao) told me we’ll take anyone out there. The thing is there’s one guy he really wants, and that’s Floyd Mayweather Jr., and he had all intentions of Mayweather maybe taking the fight right away,” ani Roach sa panayam ng Fight Hub TV.

Numero uno si Thurman sa listahan ni Roach sakaling hindi muna matuloy ang Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch.

Magandang kalaban si Thurman na isa ring mapa­nganib na fighter subalit alam ni Roach na kayang-kaya itong patumbahin ng Pinoy champion.

“I want Pacquiao to fight him. (Thurman). The thing is, if we don’t get Mayweather, Thurman’s my second choice. I love him for Pacquiao’s style. I think he’s good for us. Not easy, though,” dagdag ni Roach.

Halos isang taon ding nagkahiwalay sina Roach at Pacquiao.

Kaya’t bumilib nang husto si Roach nang muli nitong makita ang bagsik ng eight-division world champion na tinukoy nitong mas lalo pang nagiging mabangis sa kabila ng edad nitong 40-anyos.

Pinuri rin ni Roach ang disiplina ni Pacquiao na isa sa pangunahing dahilan kaya’t matagumpay ito sa mundo ng boksing.

“He’s following instructions a lot better, and he’s maturing much more. And this is like the first time he’s ever came into the weigh-in at 147 and we even had to lose one pound to get there,” aniya.