Ryan Garcia not an easy foe for Pacquiao, says Roach

Ryan Garcia will not be an easy fight even for a legendary prizefighter such as Manny Pacquiao, said Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

Talks of a potential showdown between the eight-division champion and the 22-year-old WBC interim lightweight champion has been ongoing for weeks. If the bout ever comes to fruition, Roach says that Pacquiao has to be careful with Garcia's left hand.

"The Garcia fight. I really like that fight. I think he's a good fighter, he's got a very good left hook, he can punch a little bit, you've got to be really careful with him, and that's the key for Manny," Roach told Fight Hub TV.

"Manny has to be careful with him a little bit and be smart. To beat this guy, you have to do not just ordinary things. [Garcia] is a very good fighter," he said. "Manny is 42 now, it might be a good time to catch him. Manny hasn't been active either."

Pacquiao had last seen action against the previously unbeaten Keith Thurman in July 2019 where he won via split decision to claim the WBA world welterweight title, which was recently stripped off of him due to inactivity.

Given Pacquiao's age and his long break from the sport, Roach believes that his ward should come in great shape if he wants to beat Garcia.

"He's got a terrific left hook, and he puts people right on their ass with it. He's not an easy fight for anybody, not even Manny, and where is Manny right now? He is so into politics in his country, can he still fight like he used to?" he said.

Besides Garcia, the likes of Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. were also mentioned as potential opponents for Pacquiao. But if Roach were to choose, he would rather see his prizefighter against Garcia first before taking on the champions at the 147-pound division.

"There are certain guys that when you get older, you get a little slower and so forth, and Manny can't show signs of that coming into the bigger fight against [Spence] and [Crawford], and he needs to do a tune-up fight like this. I think it would be a great fight for him to get ready for." —MGP, GMA News