Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford (Photo : Twitter)
The PacMan's coach, Freddie Roach has hinted that he could ditch his prized ward if he does not show an impressive fight.
However, most observers interpreted that as motivation for the 8 division world champion. It seems unthinkable that Roach would ever dump Pacquiao, so his statements from ES News should be taken in context: "
Speed is a great thing to have, but sometimes when you get a little older you slow down a bit. Manny has to really show me something in his next fight for me to continue with him. Even though he got injured in that fight [against Mayweather], I don't think he fought his best fight. I'd like to see him fight a better fight than that."
The main takeaway is that Roach does not believe Mayweather is actually done, and he's not alone in that opinion. Every step he takes would be towards the goal of earning a Money rematch at the soonest possible time (Pac and May aren't spring chickens).
The Examiner quoted Roach in the same interview: "But for us to get a rematch, we'd have to beat someone with a name and be impressive in doing it."
To that end, Roach had dismissed the possibility of Danny Garcia for Pac's return bout. Although Roach picked Garcia before, he now says "that's the easiest fight in the f*cking world-- Manny would kill Garcia." Garcia wasn't notable in dispatching staunch Pacquiao critic Paulie Malignaggi so he might not be a worthy challenge as "reports out of the Philippines suggest Pacquiao has resumed elite level training."
Amir Khan has also requested Pacquiao (and Mayweather for that matter) but he does not have any titles and credentials to show for it as the Examiner disputes Khan's argument that his style would counter the PacMan.
"Styles do make fights, but given Pacquiao's mugging of Chris Algieri - and Khan's subsequent struggle with an aggressive Algieri - Pac would indeed murder Khan, and not pick up a belt in the process."
Thus, the field offers Terence Crawford, the WBO super lightweight champion. They note that "(Crawford) is an HBO star, under contract with Top Rank, and currently set to defend his title against the gritty Dierry Jean (another Pac leftover, in camp while preparing for Mayweather)."
Crawford is a star on the rise and depending on his title defense against Jean on October 24, might be tapped to take his career to the highest level.
