'Pag natalo kay Rios, Pacquiao retiro na - Roach

MANILA, Philippines – Pagreretiro ang nakikitang uuwian ni Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao kung sakaling mapatumba siya sa bakbakan nila ni Brandon Rios sa Nobyembre, ayon sa trainer nitong si Freddie Roach.

Sinabi ni Roach na siya mismo ang pipilit kay Pacquaio na itigil na ang pagboboksing kapag napatumba siya ng 27-anyos na si Rios.

"It's over, 100 percent [if Pacquiao is knocked out by Rios]," sabi ni Roach sa kanyang panayam kay Kevin Lole ng Yahoo! Sports. "We have a deal. When I tell him it's over, he'll say it's over and that's it. He's pretty loyal with his words and if that happens, it will be the end."

Susubukang ibalik ni Pacquaio ang kanyang ningning sa boksing matapos matalo kina Timothy Bradley at Juan Manuel Marquez.

Naniniwala ang ilang eksperto na tapos na ang panahon ng eight-time division na si Pacquaio na ipagdiriwang ang ika-35 kaarawan sa Disyembre.

Pero ipinagtanggol ni Roach si Pacquaio.

"None whatsoever, and I'd tell you if I did. The thing is, people look at the losses and they think the reason is that he's getting old. That's not the case, not from what I see. Look, we all thought he beat Bradley, so throw that out. And in the Marquez fight, I thought he was doing well and was looking like he was going to win by knockout when he made a mistake and ran into a shot,” paliwanag ni Roach.

"That happens. That's boxing. It didn't happen because his skills aren't the same as they used to be. It happened because he made a mistake. It doesn't matter what age you are, you can make a mistake," dagdag ni Roac.

Inaasahan ni Roach si Pacquaio na magpapakitang gilas dahil sa dalawang talo na natamo noong nakaraang taon, dahilan upang bumaba ang kanyang pangalan sa mga rankings, maging sa pagiging pound-for-pound king.

"Manny needs to show me a little more. That's why I think a tremendous performance at this point will help a lot. We're at a crucial point in his career. I don't see that he looks like he's getting too old. His work ethic remains great. I'm his friend more than I'm his coach, and I'm not going to let anything happen,” ani Roach.