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The One ‘Crazy’ Fight Manny Pacquiao’s Trainer Has Warned Him Not To Take

The One ‘Crazy’ Fight Manny Pacquiao’s Trainer Has Warned Him Not To Take

Freddie Roach says his boxer has an eye on one more stunning super-fight…

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has said his fighter could have an eye on one more "crazy" super-fight - but it's one he'd urge against, due to the huge weight difference involved.

The Pac Man has eaten up world-title belts in eight weight classes - and Roach thinks he might even consider stepping up from 147lb to 160lb to capture an incredible ninth championship.

A potential opponent? Gennady Golovkin - one of the all-time great middleweights. Oh dear.

"One thing about Manny: he doesn't just want to beat anybody, he wants to beat the best out there. He wants to fight the top guys," said Roach on DAZN's Boxing with Chris Mannix, as quoted in BoxingScene.

The coach discusses a potential showdown with Mikey Garcia, but adds: "The thing is, Manny might want to go a little bit higher and fight GGG [Golovkin] or one of those guys who's supposed to be the best."

The Filipino phenomenon is famous for the ways he spectacularly climbed the weight classes. Way back in 2008, he jumped two divisions from lightweight to welterweight to end Oscar De La Hoya's career in sensational fashion.

However he is 41 now and middleweight (160lb) would be a massive step up for a 5ft 6in boxer who started his career as a light-flyweight.

Roach clearly sees the danger, but does sound a note of hope, saying: "I would not advise him to go to 160 pounds, no. That would be a little crazy. But putting him at 147 was a risk at one time... and it worked out really good for us."

Pacquiao has pulled off near-miracles in the past and he looked remarkably sharp in ruining the unbeaten record of one of the world's best welterweights, Keith Thurman, last year.

However the leap in weight isn't even as intimidating as the opponent Roach names.

Golovkin is a big, skilled, hard-punching, iron-chinned middleweight. Even at 38 and probably past his own prime - as shown by his struggles in his last fight with Sergiy Derevyanchenko - he is a fearsome test for most middleweights. Let alone 40-something welterweights.

The Ukrainian's only blemishes in his 42 fights (40 wins, 35 by KO) are a draw and a points loss to Canleo Alvarez. Both bouts could have been scored Golovkin's way.

Even with the view that he's been slowing down for some time - the first signs coming in his 2016 win over Britain's Kell Brook - he'd be a huge favourite over Pacquiao in any possible matchup.

The southpaw icon would have advantages in speed and mobility but would be seriously outsized by a boxer who knows how to cut off the ring. Also, Pacquiao is unlikely to be able to hurt Golovkin, given he's never been knocked down in his pro career.

Yet Triple G has been delaying in taking a long-rumoured third fight with Canelo - and we know Pacquiao is not afraid of a challenge. Crazier things have happened in boxing.

"Pacquiao still desires to be the best there is," Roach said of the legendary boxer who is also a senator in the Philippines with broader political ambitions.

"He wants to make his country better, and he wants to improve everything... He works hard and he'll do the best he can for everybody out there.

"I think he's good for the country and I think he'd be a great president. I'd vote for him."

Fair enough for backing your man Freddie, but we also kind of hope seeing Tyson Fury elected as British Prime Minister is more likely than watching Pacquiao and Golovkin trade punches in the ring.

All imagery: PA Images

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Topics: Manny Pacquiao, Boxing News, Boxing, Gennady Golovkin, Fight News