Roach, Pacquiao maghihiwalay na kung...

MANILA, Philippines - Matatapos na nga ba ang makulay na samahan nina Manny Pacquiao at Freddie Roach bilang boxer at trainer?

Sa panayam ng On the Ropes, sinabi ng 49-anyos na si Roach na kung hindi na matutuloy ang laban ni Pacquiao kay Floyd Mayweather, Jr. ay magwawakas na ang kanilang relasyon ni “Pacman”.

“Well if Mayweather doesn’t come around after this fight and sign to fight us, this could be our last one,” ani Roach.

Nakatakdang idepensa ni Pacquiao ang kanyang suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown laban kay Joshua Clottey ng Ghana sa Marso 13 sa Cowboys Stadium sa Arlington, Texas.

Ang laban kay Mayweather ang sinasabing magi­ging kahuli-hulihan na ng 31-anyos na si Pacquiao, ang tanging Asian fighter na naghari sa pitong magkakaibang weight divisions.

“I’ve had a lot of good fighters and a lot of good wins and stuff like that, but I guess the one that sticks out in my mind the most is the Erik Morales rematch because that was when I had to prove that Manny was better than just a left-handed puncher,” ani Roach, minsan nang tumayo sa corner nina Oscar Dela Hoya, Mike Tyson at James Toney.

Para sa laban ni Pacquiao kay Clottey, sinabi ni Roach na handang-handa na ang pambato ng General Santos City para sa kanyang unang title defense.

“He’s doing great. He’s in great shape already. His weight’s already--well he came in on weight when he came in on his first day, but we’re trying to keep the weight on him with the protein shakes and feeding him five times a day, but he sparred eight rounds yesterday,” ani Roach kay Pacquiao.

Kasalukuyang ibinabandera ni “Pacman” ang kanyang 50-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 38 KOs, habang taglay ni Clottey ang 35-3-0 (20 KOs) slate.

Inaasahan rin ng Hall of Famer na si Roach na walang magiging problema si Pacquiao pagdating ng weigh-in nila ni Clottey. (RUSSELL CADAYONA)