Roach: Clottey could be Pacquiao’s last fight

Boxing coach Freddie Roach said that if Floyd Mayweather Jr. keeps on playing “hard to get,” the former pound-for-pound king might actually miss the chance to fight 7-division world champ Manny Pacquiao.

Roach, who is currently training Pacquiao for his fight on March 13, said the Filipino boxer’s match with Ghana’s Joshua Clottey could be his last.

“If Mayweather doesn't come around after the fight and he doesn't sign to fight us, then this (Clottey fight) could be our last one,” the American trainer told EastSideBoxing’s On the Ropes.

Before signing up to fight Clottey, Pacquiao’s camp had negotiations with the Mayweather camp for a super fight. However, talks collapsed when the former pound-for-pound king demanded an Olympic style drug testing.

Pacquiao ended up setting a fight with Clottey to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title, while Mayweather opted to fight “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

Before the power-punching Pinoy faced Miguel Cotto in November last year, Roach said he’d be happy to see Pacquiao retire while still on top of his game.

“If negotiations with Mayweather fail and Manny wins against Cotto, he’ll be having seven world titles. Nobody has done that before, so there’s nothing else to prove,” the trainer told sports analyst Dennis Principe.

Pacquiao will also be very busy after the Clottey fight as he will be pursuing his political career. He is running for congressman in Sarangani province in the May 10 polls. The campaign for local posts starts on March 26.

It is widely believed that Mayweather came out of retirement to fight Pacquiao for what many has said would be the richest boxing match in history.

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