Roach: Pacquiao-dela Hoya much better than Pacquiao-Soto
abs-cbnnews.com | 07/18/2008 12:06 AM
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If Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach could have his way, he would choose Oscar de la Hoya over Humberto Soto for Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.
"I mean, what kind of (pay-per-view) PPV draw would that fight be? We are missing the boat! Oscar has talked about fighting Manny. We can have Oscar make 147 lbs, and we can add another Mexican legend to Manny's resume," Roach told Boxing Herald’s Brad Cooney.
Roach added that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has not talked with him regarding plans to pit Pacquiao against Soto.
He also said that the Filipino boxer, who recently won the WBC lightweight crown from Mexican-American David Diaz, has no problem in facing de la Hoya.
"I am very surprised that he (Arum) hasn't called me about this Soto situation. I asked Manny if Arum talked to him about Soto, and he told me 'no.' I asked Manny if he would like to fight De La Hoya, and he told me, 'Of course,' and he then asked me about the weight, and I told him we would make Oscar make 146 lbs, and we could make the fight," said Roach.
When asked about Pacquiao chances against de la Hoya, who conquered six-divisions, Roach said: "If Steve Forbes can hit De La Hoya that easily, imagine what Manny Pacquiao will do to him."
Pacquiao’s trainer added that a Soto-Pacquiao fight would be a tough sell for pay-per-view, and so is a fight against Venezuelan knock out artist Edwin Valero.
"It's a tough sell, a Soto vs Pacquiao. It's not a PPV fight, it's a free HBO fight if anything. Valero can only fight in one state, and all of his fights were in Japan, so that's not a PPV fight either really. I would like to negotiate a Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya fight," he said.
For his part, Pacquiao said he is willing to fight anyone who is willing to negotiate.
"Kahit sino naman, wala namang problema sa akin. Basta maayos ang negotiation," said the reigning WBC lightweight king.
