Floyd Mayweather is not a risk-taker like his No. 1 fighter Manny Pacquiao, says Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
Roach remains frustrated that a deal can’t be put in place for Mayweather and Pacquiao to get it on next year despite major obstacles that have been cleared on the part of the eight-division Filipino titleholder.
“I think he is just a little bit afraid to take a challenge like Manny,” said Roach in the immensely-influential HBO program The Fight Game.
“He’s so in love with that zero on that record,” stressed Roach, referring to Mayweather’s immaculate 47-0 win-loss card.
In the event efforts to make the fight go down the drain, Roach believes that it will do Mayweather’s reputation and legacy more harm.
“If he retires not fighting Manny, that will be a big question when he’s asked for things. I think that will ruin his legacy.”
Roach, 54, even criticized Mayweather’s decision to grant Argentine Marco Maidana a rematch, saying “there is no sense in that.”
Unlike Mayweather, 37, Pacquiao has never ducked an opponent in building up his record and attaining universal recognition as the most recognizable face of the sport of boxing.
While Pacquiao hasn’t been with a marquee name the last year or so, it is because he has ran out of popular foes to choose from.
The last few years, Pacquiao has faced Erik Morales (thrice), Marco Antonio Barrera (twice), Juan Manuel Marquez (four times), Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley and Oscar Dela Hoya.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is still in the process of working out a Mayweather matchup for Pacquiao in coordination with CBS big boss Les Moonves, whose network has two more fights left in its six-fight contract with Mayweather.
Arum said that it is ideal that a Pacquiao-Mayweather super fight be held in June instead of May as it is reserved for the clash between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez of Mexico.
If Pacquiao fails to get Mayweather, Arum said that he will instead return to the ring in April.