• Welterweight

Roach: Pacquiao v Mayweather Jr still possible

Manny Pacquiao shows he still has the speed during training © Getty Images

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Trainer Freddie Roach is still hopeful a mega- fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr can be set up, indicating the unbeaten American is in the same position as his fighter.

Roach, who has been training Pacquiao in preparation for the Filipino's November 23 bout with Brandon Rios in Macau, believes a potential super-fight between the two welterweights could still be made in the future - but hopes it would be for the right reasons.

"Every big fight that was supposed to happen in boxing happens somewhere along the way, I just hope this one isn't going to happen too late when they're both washed up and not the same," Roach said. "Then they're just doing it for the money, anyway.

"I still have hope. Mayweather's in the same position [Pacquiao] is. You've only got eight fighters in the world that can sell on pay-per-view and make money. That's why I give it a shot."

A bout between former pound-for-pound king Pacquiao and eight-time world champion Mayweather Jr has long been mooted, while negotiations previously stalled due to disagreements over blood testing.

Roach stated that Pacquiao had agreed to the tests, as well as a 60-40 purse split in Mayweather Jr's favour, but it came to no avail.

"That's [the split] way too generous for me, I would never do that. That's how bad [Pacquiao] wanted the fight, though," Roach said. "Obviously I'd like to get any of my guys with Mayweather Jr, but that may not happen because my guys are too tough I feel."

In September, Mayweather Jr received a cheque for over $40 million after extending his unbeaten record to 45 professional fights without loss following victory over Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

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