Even as Manny Pacquiao prepares for Jeff Horn of Australia, boxing promoter Bob Arum has repeatedly been harping about a possible clash between the Filipino champion and undefeated junior welterweight king Terence Crawford.
But coach Freddie Roach, who has been overseeing Pacquiao’s training together with conditioning coach Justine Fortune, said he would rather have his prized pupil fight either Danny Garcia or Mikey Garcia.
“
Who’s Terence Crawford?” said Roach while waiting for Pacquiao to finish his session with the heavy bag.
“Popularity-wise, I think Mikey Garcia is the best option, because it will pit Mexican versus Filipino,” he added.
“But I like Danny Garcia the best.”
Mikey is a 3-division champion and current lightweight titlist. He’s the brother of boxing trainer Robert Garcia who coached former Pacquiao foes Antonio Margarito and Brandon Rios.
Danny, on the other hand, is a former 2-weight world champion who recently lost a close match against Keith Thurman.
“(Danny) came all the way to my gym and they don’t like me. But he shook my hand and said, ‘I want Manny Pacquiao,’” recalled Roach.
“I said okay, but they got to talk to Michael Koncz and Manny.”
Roach said he didn’t want the Crawford fight because, with the exception of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao's previous bouts against African-American boxers didn’t sell well in the US.
“Filipino against Mexican sells well, but Filipjno against black? It doesn’t sell well in America,” said the coach.
“(Crawford) has audience, yes. In Nebraska, (where he comes from).”
The blatant dismissal of Crawford from Roach
"Who is Terence Crawford?"