The Filipino Senator is being linked to another fight in Las Vegas this October 29 or November 5 and has a shortlist of three top fighters currently in the frame to oppose him, according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
Super-lightweight world champions Terence Crawford and Jessie Vargas are joined by WBC welterweight belt holder Danny Garcia on Arum’s list, although Roach ultimately fancies another crack of the pound for pound king of boxing.
“I have no doubt he will fight again,” Roach told USA Today Sports. “He told me in the locker room after the fight (against Timothy Bradley in April) that he misses it already. He does have a couple of fights left in him for sure.
“I want the rematch with Mayweather. Manny thought he won that fight and he would definitely want that fight, for sure.”
On the dates being touted by Arum, Roach added: “His work ethic is great still and he will come back, but the October date is too soon.”
Pacquiao, 37, bowed out of boxing, or so we thought, with a convincing win over one of the top fighters around – in Timothy Bradley, and seems to still have plenty left in the tank. ‘Pacman’ has never really been beaten up badly, even in defeat, and could have at least two more years at the top left in him.
Whether the sheer presence of the eight-weight world title holder will be enough to entice Mayweather back from his self-imposed exile remains to be seen in the coming weeks and months.
