• Welterweight

Mayweather's wearing the dress - Roach

Freddie Roach is concerned for Manny Pacquiao's focus © Getty Images

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Freddie Roach has expressed his concern over a potential Manny Pacquiao v Timothy Bradley fight, and he has questioned the courage of Floyd Mayweather Jnr after the American side-stepped a bout with Pacquiao to fight Miguel Cotto.

Roach had been hoping Pacquiao's management team would finally seal a deal to fight Mayweather, in what would be the biggest boxing contest for over a decade. However, Mayweather announced last week that he will face the highly-rated Cotto, leaving Pacquiao scratching around for opponents.

Momentum had arguably never been greater for the Mayweather-Pacquiao tussle, with the American calling out his rival on Twitter. The pair also spoke on the phone, while dates were mooted for the contest to take place.

However, in Roach's eyes it was Mayweather who once again backed down, as he did previously when demanding a series of drug tests for Pacquiao. This time it was an uneven monetary offer that - in Roach's eyes - got the American out of trouble.

"When you call somebody out and you offer a 70-30 split you know that is a deal-breaker," Roach said in the Manila Standard. So who is really wearing the dress?"

Pacquiao's most likely opponent now is WBO light-welterweight champion Bradley, a man who is undefeated but carries little other attraction in terms of fan base or box-office pulling power. Roach has no doubt Pacquiao is the better fighter, but he is concerned that Bradley will not inspire his man.

"It looks like Bradley at this point but the thing is I worry about that sometimes, because can Manny Pacquiao really get up for guys like that?" Roach questioned.

The Filipino fighter's other options include Lamont Peterson and Juan Manuel Marquez, although it is expected that the pair will fight each other. An announcement of Pacquiao's next rival is expected by the end of Sunday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.