By Rob Smith: Freddie Roach doesn’t want Manny Pacquiao to take any chances by coming back too early from his knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, is mentioned wanting him to be back in the ring in April in either a rematch against Marquez or a fight with Brandon Rios. However, Roach thinks April is far too soon for Pacquiao to be getting back in the ring after the way he was knocked out by Marquez last Saturday night in Las Vegas. Roach thinks Pacquiao would be much better off if he waited until September next year before he gets back in the ring.
Roach told Philstar.com “April or May is way too soon…you get hit with a shot like that and maybe you [Pacquiao] had a concussion. I wouldn’t be thinking of a fight until maybe September. That’s my idea of the soonest.”
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum may still choose to put Pacquiao back in the ring in April or May, and it might not matter what Roach feels about it. Arum is the one that makes the fights and chooses the dates for Pacquiao’s fights. Roach is just the trainer. His job is to get Pacquiao ready, and that’s all he can do.
It might not seem like the smartest thing for Pacquiao to be put back in action after only four months following his fight with Marquez, but that’s probably what’s going to happen. Everyone around Pacquiao has become so accustomed to him winning each time he fights that he almost seems infallible. But if Arum takes that risk and puts Pacquiao in with Marquez and he gets knocked unconscious again a lot of people will put the blame square in Arum’s lap for hurrying him back in the ring.
The decision ultimately rests with Pacquiao for when he wants to fight again. If Arum wants him back in April, then it’s on Pacquiao to say yes or no to that idea. In this case he needs to be looking out for his own healthy by saying no and waiting at least until September like Roach wants him to so he can lessen the risk that he gets hurt again so soon.