MANILA, Philippines – Iginiit ni trainer Freddie Roach na tanging si rising star Terence Crawford lamang ang ikinukunsidera para sa susunod na laban ni Manny Pacquiao.
Sa report ni Keith Idec ng boxingscene.com, sinabi ni Roach na tanging si Crawford ang pangalan na binanggit ni Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum nang mapag-usapan nila ang pagbabalik ni Pacquiao sa boxing ring dalawang linggo na ang nakakalipas.
“The last time I talked to Arum, he called me up and he told me that Crawford is the guy we’re trying to make and so forth. And he said, ‘You’re gonna have to fight him sooner or later. You might be better off fighting him now,’” wika ng longtime cornerman ni Pacquiao.
“Arum asked me to get a hold of Manny. I tried to get a hold of Manny, but Manny’s on vacation with his kids,” dagdag pa nito.
Ngunit nagbago na ang senaryo nang mawala sa listahan si Crawford.
Sinasabing gusto ni Pacquiao na makakuha ng guaranteed prize na $20 milyon para labanan si Crawford na sinasabing hindi kayang ibigay ni Arum.
Plano din ni Arum na gawin ang laban ni Pacquiao sa Abril sa labas ng United States.
Ang Australia ang nabanggit ni Arum kung saan maaaring makatapat ni Pacquiao si Brisbane-based prospect Jeff Horn.
“But now [Arum] tells me that Mike Koncz [gave] him another opponent. So I guess he’s been talking to Arum, also. But Arum only gave me one name and that was the only name he gave me was Terence Crawford,” sabi ni Roach.
Sinabi pa ni Roach na matagal na niyang pinag-aaralan si Crawford, ang undefeated WBC at WBO super lightweight champion. (