Pacquiao may retire if Bradley wins, says Roach
Published:
Manny Pacquiao will be fighting to save his career when he steps through the ropes to face Timothy Bradley this weekend.
That is the opinion of legendary trainer Freddie Roach who will be in the Pac-Man’s corner as the Filipino attempts to reclaim what was so controversially taken from him last time the pair met.
According to Roach, the eight-weight world champion is fully prepared for the fight and as such will have to consider hanging up his gloves if he fails to beat the American at the second time of asking.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Roach said his fighter is out to dispel the myth that he is ready for retirement and both men are confident that he will do just that.
“This is a ‘must-win’ situation on Saturday night, and if we don’t win this fight we have to consider maybe retirement,” he told the newspaper.
“So this is a big, big fight for him. We are in a ‘must-win’ situation; it’s as simple as that. Some people think we are all done and we have to prove that we are not.”
Pacquiao is the 1/2 favourite to reclaim the WBO Welterweight title he lost via a split decision that sent shockwaves around the boxing world in 2012, but Bradley is not being completely discounted at 13/8 to retain the strap.
The Californian has claimed in the build-up to the bout that his opponent no longer has the hunger required to win but Roach claims these words will come back to haunt him come fight night.
“Bradley has motivated Manny. Manny feels embarrassed by those comments and he’s ready to go,” he added.
Both unbeaten Bradley and Pacquiao, who has lost two of his last three fights, know that a win could set up a career-defining (and extremely lucrative) showdown with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather and despite his recent losses, Pac Man’s desire to enhance his legacy should elevate him on the night.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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