Roach Still Optimistic On Super Fight, Hopes That Alvarez-Cotto Bout Will Push Mayweather Jr. To Accept Fight Against Pacquiao

Freddie Roach is not giving up on the super fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao potentially the richest bout in the history of the sport. Despite the still not finalised status of the anticipated bout, the world renowned trainer is staying positive and confident that a deal will be done anytime soon.

“I think [Mayweather] does accept the Pacquiao fight," Roach said via thesweetscience.com in an interview with the boxing website’s editor-in-chief Michael Woods. "I'm being optimistic by saying Mayweather will fight Manny because I just want that fight to happen so bad.”

In the same piece, Roach mentioned the possibility that Mayweather Jr. will be goaded into taking the fight, not because of Pacquiao’s consistent effort to call him out on social media, but of the scheduled Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Miguel Cotto bout, which is being negotiated for May 2, 2015. The said date is right in the middle of the Cinco de Mayo festivities by Mexicans but Mayweather Jr. has mentioned in previous interviews that he badly wants that specific date and want to fight on this year’s Cinco de Mayo weekend.

READ ALSO: Manny Pacquiao 'Not The Same Anymore' According To Trainer Robert Garcia, Wants Marcos Maidana To Have A Shot Against the Filipino Boxer

"Pacquiao-Mayweather is the only one that can over-ride Cotto-Canelo,” Roach said to Woods reiterating the fact that if Mayweather wants to get that particular fight day, the undefeated American’s pairing with the Filipino pugilist will be the only bout that can most assuredly outdo the Alvarez-Cotto bout in terms of hype and anticipation and eventually, actual pay-per-view (PPV) sales and ticket demand in the gates. While Alvarez and Cotto has a large following from Mexico and Puerto Rico, respectively, the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao pairing remains the most in-demand fight in this era and can possibly be the biggest event in the history of boxing.

READ ALSO: Manny Pacquiao’s Adviser Mike Koncz Gives End of January Deadline For Floyd Mayweather Jr. To Accept Fight

Both Mayweather (and Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) have been going at it on social media but no fight contract has been signed yet. Pacquiao’s Adviser Mike Koncz reportedly has given an end of January deadline for Mayweather to decide as the Filipino will have to look for other options if Mayweather decides once again to run away from the fight. There are also observations, particularly from World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, that fight fans are getting tired of the Mayweather-Pacquiao impasse and the threat that the same boxing supporters’ interest will move to other bouts if they can’t still agree to a deal this 2015.

To contact author of this article, email j.quizon@IBTimes.com.au