Roach thinks Canelo-Cotto can force Floyd to fight Manny

MANILA, Philippines – If a fight between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Miguel Cotto gets finalized for May 2, it can push Floyd Mayweather Jr. to finally go for a showdown with Manny Pacquiao.

This is the belief of Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach, who remains optimistic that Mayweather will eventually take on his ward in what could go down as the richest match in boxing history.

Mayweather plans to fight also on May 2, even calling out Pacquiao on national television to step up. But it is the same date being eyed for an Alvarez-Cotto bout.

Alvarez and Cotto are reportedly finalizing a deal to face each other, and if both parties come to terms, Roach believes Mayweather has no choice but to agree to fight Pacquiao.

“Then I think (Mayweather) does accept the Pacquiao fight,” Roach told Michael Woods of thesweetscience.com.

Knowing the brash Mayweather, he will most likely pull off something that would steal the limelight from Alvarez and Cotto, also among boxing’s biggest stars. Roach, for his part, thinks only a fight with Pacquiao can do the trick.

“Pacquiao-Mayweather is the only that can override Cotto-Canelo,” the bespectacled trainer added.

Mayweather outpointed both Cotto and Alvarez, while Pacquiao stopped Cotto in their 2009 meeting.

Pacquiao had been firm on his desire to fight Mayweather, but he’s willing to fight someone else if a bout with the undefeated American remains elusive.

But Roach isn’t losing hope.

“I'm being optimistic by saying Mayweather will fight Manny because I just want that fight to happen so bad,” he ended. – Dino Maragay