Freddie Roach on a Possible Pacquiao-Mayweather fight: “I hope it happens as soon as possible”

Freddie Roach on a Possible Pacquiao-Mayweather fight: “I hope it happens as soon as possible”

It seems like it started a few years ago. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have gone back and forth and the two best boxers in the world have kept fight fans on the edge of their seats waiting to see if the two will finally figure out a solution that will bring them together in the ring. Everyone is still waiting. This past week, Floyd Mayweather Jr. gave the indication that he was ready to fight Manny Pacquiao for the first time. Mayweather, who some people feel has been ducking Pacquiao for quite some time, turned to Twitter to challenge the Pacman.

His first tweet read, “Manny Pacquiao I’m calling you out let’s fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see.” Then he followed that up by saying “My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk.” Of course with the way negotiations have gone in the past, this could just be another case of Mayweather blowing smoke or trying to make Pacquiao look like the bad guy. Or maybe Mayweather needs money with his impending jail sentence on the horizon. No matter what the motivation is this time, if it leads to the fight of the year, it’s irrelevant. Pacquiao says he wants Mayweather. Mayweather says he wants Pacquiao. Fight fans continue to wait. Freddie Roach joined 790 the Zone in Atlanta with Mayhem in the AM to talk about whether or not a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao will actually happen, if Pacquiao’s promoter is currently negotiating a deal to fight Mayweather, how things could change based on Mayweather’s jail sentence, whether or not he thought Pacquiao was distracted in his last fight, and why he thinks Mayweather is calling Pacquiao out.

Whether or not a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao will actually happen:

“It would be nice. The thing is we’ve been calling this guy out for two years now and all of the sudden something changed and they want to go on that date now. He thinks he’s gonna call all the shots now. In the Philippines right now negotiating with Manny and trying to work that out.”

If they are negotiating a fight against Mayweather:

“Yes. (Host: On May 5th of this year?) They’re talking about May or June. There’s two dates out there right now but which one I’m not sure. Again Bob (Arum) is in the Philippines and they’re talking.”

How Mayweather’s jail sentence affects a possible fight against Pacquiao:

“When he gets his jail sentence we’re looking in a different direction again because we’re not gonna sit around and wait for him so we did make some obligations with some people. They are negotiating those deals out now and hopefully this thing happens.”

Whether or not he thought Pacquiao was distracted in his last fight:

“His mind just wasn’t there. I know that’s why I want a big fight with Mayweather, something he can get up for. I don’t think we’ll have any problem with that fight if it does happen.”

If he thinks Mayweather really wants the fight against Pacquiao

“No, I think he needs money. (Host: As long is the fight happens I don’t think people will care.) I agree. Everywhere I go in the world people say make that fight happen. We’re doing the best we can to make it happen and boxing needs a fight like that right now.”

Where the fight could take place:

“Well the thing is someone in Dubai made an offer for 100 million apiece. (Host: Someone made an offer for 100 million apiece?) Yup. (Host: How does it not happen in Dubai then?) Because Mayweather says he wants to fight in Vegas. He will go where the money is. I think Dallas is maybe a good site also because we will sell that place out no problem. It is the fight of the year. You go where the dollars make the most sense of course.”