Freddie Roach, trainer for eight division champion Manny Pacquiao, views unbeaten lightweight contender Ryan Garcia as a good ‘tune-up’ fight for something bigger – like a clash with Terence Crawford or Errol Spence.
For the last few weeks, Garcia has been calling for a showdown with Pacquiao, who competes two divisions north at welterweight.
No serious discussions have taken place, according to Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.
However, Golden Boy is very interested in making that fight happen.
Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) picked up the biggest win of his career back in January, when he knocked out 2012 Olympic gold medal winner Luke Campbell for the WBC’s interim-lightweight title.
Pacquiao, 42-years-old, has been out of the ring since July of 2019 when he won a twelve round decision over Keith Thurman to capture the WBA welterweight title.
Roach likes the idea of the fight and doesn’t see Garcia being a complete walkover.
“The Garcia fight, I really like that fight. I think he’s a good fighter, he’s got a very good left hook, he can punch a little bit, you’ve got to be really careful with him, and that’s the key,” Roach said to Fight Hub TV.
“Manny has to be careful with him a little bit and be smart. To beat this guy, you have to do not just ordinary things. [Garcia] is a good fighter. We definitely have to be in the best of shape to beat him, and that’s something we will do. He’s got a terrific left hook, and he puts people right on their ass with it. He’s not an easy fight for anybody, not even Manny, and where is Manny right now? Is he so into politics in his country that he – can he still fight like he used to? And I will say this: with the tapes he’s sent me, yes he does. He works his ass off still, every day.
“I would like to go with Ryan first. There are certain guys that when you get older, you get a little slower and so forth, and Manny can’t show signs of that coming into the bigger fight against [Spence] and [Crawford], and he needs to do a tune-up fight like this. I think it would be a great fight for him to get ready for.”