Roach wants Mosley for Pacquiao at 142 pounds

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach wants Shane Mosley for Manny Pacquiao but only if the WBA welterweight champion agrees to drop down to 142 pounds.

As of now, the answer from the aging but raging champion from Pomona, California, is a big no.

“Mosley fight is probably the most exciting because they both like to fight,” Pacquiao’s trainer, told David Avila of The Sweet Science in a recent interview.

Roach said Pacquiao couldn’t fight Mosley at 147 pounds because he may be too small for the 5-foot-9 champion by the time they climb the ring a day after the weigh-in.

Pacquiao weighed in at 142 pounds and climbed the ring at 148 1/2 for a welterweight fight with Oscar dela Hoya last December, then weighed in at 138 pounds and climbed the ring at 148 against Ricky Hatton two weeks ago.

The result was phenomenal as Pacquiao showed the quickness he had even when he was fighting at 126, 130 or 135 pounds, and the power even greater.

Roach wants the same formula for Pacquiao if ever he gets to face Mosley next.

“I have to protect my fighter. I spoke to Shane and told him that we would fight him at 142. He said he can’t make that weight,” Roach said from his Wild Card Gym in LA.

Mosley, according to The Sweet Science, “asked why not 147 as was set for De La Hoya at 147?” and Roach answered by saying, “Mosley is not De La Hoya in terms of setting a weight handicap.”

Another big fighter who wants a fight with Pacquiao is Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. But the son of the legendary fighter from Mexico wants Pacquiao at 150 pounds.

Pacquiao isn’t interested.

“Masyado na ’yan (That’s too much),” he said when told of Chavez’ challenge hurled by his promoter, Fernando Beltran.

“If he thinks he’s Superman, then let him fight Chavez Jr. He’s beaten the great Mexican boxers (Morales, Barrera and Marquez) but there’s still a Mexican who can beat him,” Beltran said.

Roach also talked about Floyd Mayweather Jr., who takes on Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18, and probably Pacquiao next, even if there’s already an early disagreement on the terms of the fight.

The weight shouldn’t be an issue, probably a catch weight of around 142 pounds, but it’s the money.

Mayweather wants a 60-40 split in his favor and Roach said it just wouldn’t happen. The trainer said it could take place if it’s the other way around.

“Even 50-50 with Mayweather is nonsense,” said Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum.