Roach wants Crawford as Manny’s foe

MANILA, Philippines – The reason why Freddie Roach doesn’t like Amir Khan next for Manny Pacquiao’s is that the British star might put on his running shoes instead of his fighting shoes.

Roach said he has no problem with Terence Crawford, a young, undefeated American, or Tim Bradley, a fighter they’ve fought twice and beaten once.

He can’t say the same with Khan.

“I think Crawford is a better fight for us than Amir Khan at this point because Crawford will fight a little bit more and Amir will run a little bit more,” Roach told Yahoo! Sports.

Roach said the other day that yes, he prefers Crawford for Pacquiao on April 9 in Las Vegas, the tentative date and venue.

Crawford and Bradley were impressive in their last fights, and shouldn’t hesitate taking a call from their promoter, Bob Arum, regarding the fight.

Khan has his own promoter, and while he’s been in talks with Arum for the past month or so, there’s nothing as concrete coming out.

This is reason to believe that Pacquiao himself is having second thoughts on facing his former training partner inside the ring.

Pacquiao is coming off a shoulder injury and a loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May, his third loss in six fights since 2012.

Roach must be thinking of someone who can make Pacquiao look good inside the ring.

“I like Crawford. He’s a good fighter; a good young fighter. I think Manny can beat him,” said Roach, who also thinks that Pacquiao’s next fight may be his last.

Arum said tapes of Crawford’s and Bradley’s most recent fights are now with Pacquiao, and soon the Filipino superstar will go through them.

Pacquiao is in the tail-end of a long vacation, and said that right after he comes home there should be something to say.

Roach thinks Bradley, now being trained by Teddy Atlas, should also be a good fight for Pacquiao.

“Oh, Bradley? We’ll fight him tomorrow,” he told Yahoo! Sports.