Sakaling matuloy at maging matagumpay ang mga laban ni Manny Pacquiao kina Ricky Hatton at Floyd Mayweather, Jr., inaasahan naman ni American trainer Freddie Roach ang pagreretiro at pagiging Pangulo ng Pilipinas ni “Pacman”.
“In a perfect world I would like to see him fight Ricky Hatton next and then Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and then I would like to see Manny retire and become President of the Philippines,” ani Roach sa isang panayam ng FightHype. com kahapon.
Ang laban kina Hatton at Mayweather, ayon kay Roach, ang tuluyan nang magsesemento sa pangalan ni Pacquiao bilang ‘best pound-for-pound boxer’.
Itinakda na nina Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions at Richard Schaefer ng Golden Boy Promotions ang world lightwelterweight championship fight nina Pacquiao at Hatton sa Mayo 2.
Matapos agawan ng super featherweight crown si Juan Manuel Marquez noong Marso 15, at tanggalan ng lightweight belt si David Diaz noong Hunyo 28, isang eight-round TKO naman ang iniskor ng 30-anyos na si Pacquiao kay world six-division king Oscar Dela Hoya sa kanilang non-title welter-weight fight noong Disyembre 7.
Sinabi ni Roach na hanggang sa welterweight division (147 pounds) lamang lalaban si Pacquiao.
“I think that’s his limit. He only weighed 142 for the fight and 148 going into the ring, so 147 is the highest he will go for sure,” ani Roach. “I’m sure we’ll go at it again if we’re fighting Ricky Hatton next.”
Bukod kina Hatton at Mayweather, Jr., kapwa tumalo kina Hatton at Dela Hoya noong 2007, maaari ring sagupain ni Pacquiao sina welterweights Antonio Margarito at Miguel Cotto, dagdag ni Roach.
“There are a lot of good fights out there for us of course. We have Floyd, Jr. if he comes back, Cotto and Margarito. There are a lot of good fights at 147 and there are a lot of good fights at 140 also. Any weight division we’re in, we’ll fight the best no problem.” (Russell Cadayona)