LAS VEGAS, May 7 (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach felt Juan Manuel Marquez was the ideal next opponent for his fighter after he retained his WBO welterweight title with a lop-sided win over Shane Mosley on Saturday.
Filipino Pacquiao outclassed a defence-minded Mosley over 12 rounds at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, recording an unanimous points victory, and Roach would dearly love to see him face Mexican Marquez in a re-match.
Marquez has twice fought Pacquiao, recovering from three knockdowns in the opening round to earn a draw when they first clashed in May 2004 before losing his WBC super-featherweight title to the Filipino in a controversial split decision in March 2008.
"They have history and those were two great fights," Roach told Reuters after Pacquiao's 14th consecutive win since his loss to Erik Morales in Las Vegas in March 2005.
"I hate it when he (Marquez) says that he was robbed because there was no robbery in either fight. They were very close fights and could have gone either way. So I would love to fight him one more time just to shut him up, I really would.
"If (Floyd) Mayweather doesn't come to the table, I think Marquez is going to be our next opponent because we are running out of opponents. He is sellable. The Mexican market is huge in boxing and they would love to see that fight one more time."
Boxing fans have long savoured the prospect of a showdown between defensive genius Mayweather and the aggressive Pacquiao to decide the mythical title of the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.
Mayweather had been expected to meet the Filipino last year until negotiations collapsed over the American's demand for random drug testing.
WEIGHTING GAME
While Marquez gets Roach's vote as Pacquiao's next opponent, the shrewd trainer said the Mexican, a natural lightweight, would have to come up in weight.
"He is just going to have to come to 147 (pounds) and I think that he might be a little bit too small for that weight," Roach said.
"He might want to fight at a catchweight or something like that. But Manny's weight class is 147 right now and that is what we are going to fight at."
Roach's main concern on Saturday after yet another Pacquiao victory was the cramp that had hampered the Filipino southpaw in his left leg from the fourth round on.
"It's something you can have when you have such big calves," Roach said. "It does happen here and there and we've had that problem a couple of times in the past, mostly in the gym. We have exercises to try to cope with that.
"He had no leverage to move after it happened tonight. It was a very gutsy performance in my mind because of the handicap in his leg."
Roach was also frustrated by Pacquiao's ultra-friendly demeanour in the ring with Mosley, a fighter who has yet to be knocked out after 54 professional fights.
"I wish Manny had got more aggressive a little sooner," Roach said. "I asked him: 'Why are you touching gloves with this guy? Is he your friend?' I hate that. I hate that in a fighter.
"I said to him: 'Make it personal and knock this guy out. Show the world how good you are.' He said to me he was trying but that his leg hurt."
Filipino Pacquiao outclassed a defence-minded Mosley over 12 rounds at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, recording an unanimous points victory, and Roach would dearly love to see him face Mexican Marquez in a re-match.
Marquez has twice fought Pacquiao, recovering from three knockdowns in the opening round to earn a draw when they first clashed in May 2004 before losing his WBC super-featherweight title to the Filipino in a controversial split decision in March 2008.
"They have history and those were two great fights," Roach told Reuters after Pacquiao's 14th consecutive win since his loss to Erik Morales in Las Vegas in March 2005.
"I hate it when he (Marquez) says that he was robbed because there was no robbery in either fight. They were very close fights and could have gone either way. So I would love to fight him one more time just to shut him up, I really would.
"If (Floyd) Mayweather doesn't come to the table, I think Marquez is going to be our next opponent because we are running out of opponents. He is sellable. The Mexican market is huge in boxing and they would love to see that fight one more time."
Boxing fans have long savoured the prospect of a showdown between defensive genius Mayweather and the aggressive Pacquiao to decide the mythical title of the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.
Mayweather had been expected to meet the Filipino last year until negotiations collapsed over the American's demand for random drug testing.
WEIGHTING GAME
While Marquez gets Roach's vote as Pacquiao's next opponent, the shrewd trainer said the Mexican, a natural lightweight, would have to come up in weight.
"He is just going to have to come to 147 (pounds) and I think that he might be a little bit too small for that weight," Roach said.
"He might want to fight at a catchweight or something like that. But Manny's weight class is 147 right now and that is what we are going to fight at."
Roach's main concern on Saturday after yet another Pacquiao victory was the cramp that had hampered the Filipino southpaw in his left leg from the fourth round on.
"It's something you can have when you have such big calves," Roach said. "It does happen here and there and we've had that problem a couple of times in the past, mostly in the gym. We have exercises to try to cope with that.
"He had no leverage to move after it happened tonight. It was a very gutsy performance in my mind because of the handicap in his leg."
Roach was also frustrated by Pacquiao's ultra-friendly demeanour in the ring with Mosley, a fighter who has yet to be knocked out after 54 professional fights.
"I wish Manny had got more aggressive a little sooner," Roach said. "I asked him: 'Why are you touching gloves with this guy? Is he your friend?' I hate that. I hate that in a fighter.
"I said to him: 'Make it personal and knock this guy out. Show the world how good you are.' He said to me he was trying but that his leg hurt."
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