Now since Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight seems unlikely, the focus is shifting to who Pacquiao is going to fight in November. Senior Trainer Freddie Roach is confident that Manny Pacquiao will emerge as victorious on November 13 whether he faces off with Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
“A hundred percent,” Roach told The Ring magazine’s on-line edition when staffer Michael Rosenthal suggested that the Mexican warrior charging into Pacquiao “would be as if Margarito would be walking into a meat grinder.”
Roach said that he would prefer to see Pacquiao locking horns with Margarito, just because Cotto had already tasted the fury of Pacquiao’s punches last year. “I just think Manny has his (Cotto) number,” said Roach, who guided Pacquiao to a smashing 12th-round stoppage over the Puerto Rican. “I think Margarito would be more interesting for the fans. They’ve already seen Cotto,” he said.
“Cotto was in the fight for about four rounds and that was about it. Margarito has been a pretty dominant fighter, except for the (Shane) Mosley fight. Cotto is at a higher weight now. And maybe there’s some interest because of the world title. And, who knows, maybe having Emanuel Steward in his corner will make a difference. That might add some interest.”
Earlier, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said that he saw Cotto or Margarito as Pacquiao’s next challenge. Arum's comments came days after efforts to tap Floyd Mayweather went in vain. Arum, however, said yesterday that Mayweather had some 10 days to revert to the offer of Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight or he will start looking for other options. Arum didn't rule out the Mayweather fight but stressed that he must start making plans for the Asian superstar's next bout.
