LOS ANGELES — The future of Manny Pacquiao is hanging in the balance.
At around the same time Pacquiao was being feted during his arrival in Manila early Wednesday morning, his trainer Freddie Roach accommodated a handful of Filipino reporters at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, telling them that he’d rather see his No. 1 fighter rest than get back to the ring anytime soon.
Roach said he’d prefer that Pacquiao postpone his next fight to September.
“April or May is just too soon,” said Roach.
Pacquiao got knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez over the weekend in Las Vegas and it was the worst beating the soon-to-be 34-year-old future Hall of Famer had received in his 17-year career.
“I got to talk with Manny and we had a great conversation on what’s going to happen next and right now how he feels and we haven’t completely decided but we have a good idea,” said Roach.
“We are going to talk to (Top Rank head) Bob (Arum). Me, Manny and (adviser) Michael (Koncz) and me and Bob will sit down for the next decision. In my opinion, I believe he should get some rest. Don’t rush it.”
Roach said Marquez was losing the fight when he struck with his right hand on the overly-aggressive Pacquiao in the dying seconds of the sixth round.
Pacquiao fell as if somebody had hit his head with a baseball bat and he was motionless for about a minute, sending his corner in a frenzy.
Arum had earlier penciled an April fight for Pacquiao, but that was before Marquez posted his most impressive victory ever.
Pacquiao assured his fans in the Philippines that he will rebound strongly from the Marquez setback, saying the Mexican just got lucky and that he “will rise again.”
source: interaksyon.com
