PACQUIAO VS. CRAWFORD NEXT?
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 03 Jan 2017
Manny Pacquiao, the WBO welterweight champion, facing Terence Crawford, the unified WBC, WBO, Ring magazine, and lineal light welterweight champion, has been hugging the headlines before the Pacquiao vs. Chris Algieri world title fight in 2014. But instead Manny encountered Algieri at the Cotai Arena, The Venetian in Macao.
After the "Fight of the Century" with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in 2015 again the name of Bud Crawford surfaced as the next possible Pacquiao foe. But the trilogy with Timothy Bradley was completed instead last April followed by the retirement of the boxer who would later win as senator.
When Pacquiao resurfaced from his brief retirement, again Crawford was floated as the next adversary last November but he chose Jessie Vargas who was the WBO welterweight champ that time. Now Pacquiao will be selecting his next rival and again Crawford was broadcasted as the most likely foe.
Roach said the fight with Crawford is not an easy fight, a tough fight. But he insisted that they don't want to fight nobodies but want the best in order to stay in the game. They dream of winning another world title.
Negotiating with Crawford will be easier for Bob Arum since he is a Top Rank fighter. Roach described him as getting better, can move for 12 rounds with great legs like a young Mayweather with a better punch than the Money Man.
Respected trainer Robert Garcia was quoted last year that Pacquiao is a little too dangerous and a big risk for Crawford. But Floyd Mayweather Sr. thinks Crawford's age which is years younger than that of Pacquiao is a great advantage.
The Omaha, Nebraska native has a very high superstar potential with his athleticism, talent and charisma. He has what it takes to succeed Pacquiao as the Top Rank's top box-office earner when the fighting senator hangs up his gloves.
The 2014 Fighter of the Year started street fighting in his native city and will be boxing as a welterweight for the first time if the Pacquiao fight pushes through. He is a strong candidate this year for FOTY honors.
If Roach will have to decide, he wants Pacquiao to practice full time unlike the Jessie Vargas training where he had to attend to his Senate duties in addition to his workouts. But the Senator repeatedly insisted that he won't let his profession as a fighter interfere with his legislative works.
If the Pacquiao-Crawford bout finally happens and if Manny losses it will be the end of the road for the PacMan. But if it will be Crawford who will be defeated, he still has the time to rise and fix his career.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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