Bukod sa dalawang middleweights at isang welterweight fighter, isa pang world title contender ang maaaring ibilang ni trainer Freddie Roach sa mga sparring partners ni Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
Nagtungo ang light-weight na si Amir Khan sa Wild Card Boxing Gym ni Roach sa Hollywood, California para muling kunin ang 48-anyos na Hall of Famer bilang kanyang chief trainer.
Ayon kay Roach, gusto niyang mapanood ng 21-anyos na tubong Lancashire, United King-dom ang sparring sesions ng 29-anyos na si Pacquiao para sa non-title welterweight fight nito sa 35-anyos na si Oscar Dela Hoya.
Nanggaling si Khan sa isang first-round KO kay Beridis Prescott noong Setyembre 6 na nagtanggal sa kanyang dating suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental lightweight belt.
“I haven’t seen the fight,” ani Roach, “But I heard it was a bad knockout and probably something hard to come back from. But I figured since Pacquiao is in town, I told him I thought it would be good to be around a champion and see how a real champion works. So I said, come on down.”
Nauna nang kinuha ni Roach ang serbisyo nina middleweights Yuri Fore-man at Arron Robinson at welterweight Rashad Holloway bilang sparring partners ni Pacquiao.
Ayon kay Roach, maaari niyang isama si Khan sa naturang grupo.
“Style-wise I don’t know if he is the best guy to prepare Pacquiao for this fight. But they will work together,” wika ni Roach kay Khan. ”Hard to say. The thing is, I believe he needs to get back on that horse as soon as possible. Get some confidence back and take it from there.” ( RCadayona)