Freddie Roach answers questions from the media after the PSA Forum Tuesday. Photo by Mark Giongo
Freddie Roach sees no problem with the idea of his prized student Manny Pacquiao fighting Conor McGregor as long as it will be a boxing match.
Roach, the Hall-of-Fame boxing trainer, is also certain that both Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., who has been rumored to fight McGregor, will dominate the MMA superstar inside the boxing ring.
“It has to be a boxing match of course, in a boxing ring, in a boxing gloves and boxing rules,” Roach said on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay. “The thing is, Manny is a world champion boxer and the other guy is a UFC fighter. If he wants to cross over, I have no problem with that.”
“I don’t think the two sports really match up well. Whoever rules we go by I think is going to be the winner. If it’s a wrestling match, he’ll probably beat Mayweather and Manny but if it’s a boxing match, I think Mayweather and Manny will both absolutely beat him up,” he said.
Roach was asked about the possibility of Pacquiao taking on Mayweather after Bob Arum, who promotes the WBO welterweight champion, told TMZ that the Filipino ring icon will be available if the two fail to come to terms.
Mayweather and McGregor have been teasing sporting fans about potential megafight since 2015 with their interminable belabor well-documented all over their social media accounts.
The 38-year-old Pacquiao is currently in the middle of training camp for his fight against unheralded Jeff Horn set on July 2 in Brisbane, Australia.
McGregor, who reportedly had submitted his application for a boxing license from Nevada State Athletic Commission two weeks ago, hasn’t fought since successfully defending his UFC lightweight title with a second-round stoppage over Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.
Mayweather, meanwhile, has stayed true to his word and hasn’t fought since announcing his retirement following his lopsided victory over Andre Berto in September 2015.