Naoya Inoue and Manny Pacquiao. –FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—Any fight between Manny Pacquiao and Naoya Inoue would be nothing more than just hypothetical or fantasy.
Hall-of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach, though, it’s still possible as far-fetched as it seems.
“I would like to see it. I think Pacquiao could still get ready for that,” said Roach in an interview with Fight Hype a day after Inoue demolished Stephen Fulton last July 26 to claim the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles.
But for it to take place, a lot would have to be accounted for.
Pacquiao, who turns 45 this year, hasn’t had a real fight since announcing his retirement two years ago.
As to which weight class the two would be fighting in is another major issue to consider.
Pacquiao has not fought below the welterweight division since his spectacular second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton at junior welterweight or 140 pounds back in 2009.
Inoue, meanwhile, just made his 122-pound debut when he beat Fulton in another masterful performance that further validated his status as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters today.
“He’d have to move up a little bit, 135,” said Roach, referring to Inoue.