Manny Pacquiao Would Be 'Too Much' For Floyd Mayweather In A Rematch, Roach Says

Manny Pacquiao’s former longtime trainer and mentor, Freddie Roach, said his former pupil is eager for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. The renowned trainer is positive that if the two face each other again, the Filipino boxing legend would “fight much better” than during their last bout.

The eight-division titleholder reached the pinnacle of his career under Roach’s wing, exceeding an array of world champions and all-time greats. Pacquiao also chose to be mentored by Roach for his blockbuster fight with Mayweather in May 2015, one of the most important bouts of his career.

Speaking to Boxing Scene, Roach opened up about his recent conversations with Pacquiao. The Hall of Fame trainer said that though years have passed and a new breed of world champions are being linked to Pacquiao, the 41-year-old still wants a second showdown with Mayweather.

“What he would like best is (Floyd) Mayweather one more time,” Roach revealed.

Billed as “Battle for Greatness,” Mayweather vs. Pacquiao set a couple of world records. But contrary to what most expected from Pacquiao, the Filipino boxer wasn’t able to unleash his flurry of combinations. Mayweather ended up winning via decision.

At the time, Pacquiao said he was hindered by a shoulder injury in the middle of the fight. The said injury was later revealed to be a torn rotator cuff.

Five years after the fight, Roach insists that if it wasn’t for the untimely shoulder injury, Pacquiao would have been able to fight with “more activity,” something he believes the unbeaten champ would not be able to handle.

“(After) the fourth round of that fight he told me my shoulder is shot. I said, ‘OK, Manny, go out there, do the best you can, don’t get hurt,’ and he says, ‘Of course’,” Roach recalled.

“And so he would like to get that one back one more time. He would,” he continued. “Watching the fight with no commentary it was a pretty close fight. He fought well but he can fight much better and with much more activity. I think the activity would be too much for Mayweather. Then again, Mayweather might not come back.”

Despite his age, Pacquiao has remained open to facing any challenger in his respective division. Mayweather, on the other hand, has kept teasing a return but has to yet to close a negotiation.