Roach wants closer look at Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach won’t just rely on the piece of paper saying Manny Pacquiao has fully recovered from the shoulder injury and is ready to fight again.

Roach said the results of the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) on Pacquiao’s right shoulder or a few x-ray plates will not be enough.

The results, according to the 36-year-old boxer, are good enough to allow him to return to the ring and fight early next year.

Roach wants a closer look at Pacquiao.

“I want to look at that arm first,” Roach said in a recent chat with Pinoy scribes at his famous Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Roach thinks he’ll be able to tell if the torn rotator cuff on Pacquiao’s right shoulder did any damage that can only be seen inside the ring.

They’ve been together for 14 years now, and Roach perhaps knows Pacquiao, as a boxer, better than anybody else.

Pacquiao is looking to fight sometime in February or April. His promoter, Bob Arum, is in talks with British star Amir Khan regarding a fight.

Others being considered are Tim Bradley, Terence Crawford, Kell Brook and Lucal Matthysse and his conqueror, Viktor Postol.

If it’s not February, the Top Rank chief is looking at April 9 as the date of Pacquiao’s next fight in Las Vegas.

Roach said even before Pacquiao signs the fight contract, he wants to take a look at his boxer, and look for telltale signs of any damage.

He said he can tell if Pacquiao is ready to fight again.

“Normally, yes, I will see it once we get in that ring,” said Roach, now busy training Miguel Cotto for next month’s big clash with Canelo Alvarez.

“I can tell if he’s sore or if he gets tired,” said Roach of Pacquiao.

He said he spoke to Pacquiao and Arum more than two weeks ago, and he was given the names of the possible opponent.

“Manny told me he will be the one to decide whom he wants to fight and when he’s ready to fight,” Roach said.

“But I want to see that arm,” he added.

Pacquiao is all set to launch his senatorial campaign, months before the Philippine national elections on May 9, 2016.

Roach has gotten ahead of the May elections.

“If Manny becomes senator then he can become president. Then we will have a world champion who is president,” he said.