ROACH SAYS PACQUIAO MAY FIGHT VALERO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 Jun 2007
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach says Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao may fight undefeated Venezuelan Edwin Valero who has a record of 22 knockouts in 22 wins “possibly in Macau” in October.
Roach made the statement in an interview broadcast by the well-known website boxingscene.com. The uncertainty about Pacquiao’s next fight is expected to clear up after Pacquiao meets with promoter Bob Arum next week in New York.
Roach noted that for medical reasons Valero can't fight in the US but Macau was available since the gambling enclave now has a 15,000 seat venue at the Venetian Hotel and Casino.
In the midst of uncertainty as to who Pacquiao’s next opponent will be with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum claiming he had an October 6 date and a site in Vancouver against Joan Guzman, Roach said a clash with Valero would be “a good fight for Manny” even though there is a lot of hype about Valero’s unbeaten record and punching power.
However, Roach believes that “obviously everybody wants to see him fight – and beat – Marco Antonio Barrera, the former WBC super featherweight champion who lost his title in a close and exciting battle with Juan Manuel Marquez last April.
Roach revealed that “Barrera wants to fight Manny and Manny wants to fight Barrera” but it depends on whether the two promoters, Golden Boy and Top Rank who are tied up in a bitter legal battle for the promotional rights to Pacquiao “can get together and work that out.”
Roach added “it’s a great match and we don’t want to lose that fight” but was “not sure whether it could happen because of the animosity between the two promoters since Golden Boy also holds the rights over Barrera.
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