Boxing News: Manny Pacquiao could still fight despite full-time political career, says Freddie Roach

Hall of Famer trainer Freddie Roach thinks his fighter Manny Pacquiao could still fight in the boxing ring despite having a full-time job as a politician in the Philippines, where the Filipino bids for a senatorial position.

Pacquiao has always been adamant that the Pacquiao-Bradley III bout set on April 9 in Las Vegas would be the last fight of his illustrious boxing career. However, Roach believes there is a chance Pacquiao could still fight after his trilogy match with Bradley.

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“He would love to be the senator who defended his title someday,” Roach told Michael Rosenthal of the Ring Magazine. “I don’t think this is his last fight for some reason. I just don’t see it because he has a lot left in him.”

Pacquiao, who is coming off a major surgery that repaired his broken shoulder from his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr in May last year, will fight Bradley for the WBO welterweight championship. There is a growing sense in Roach that if Pacquiao wins the welterweight belt, the former eight-division titlist would “love to be the senator who defended his title someday.”

The Filipino boxing icon is showing his eagerness in and focus on fighting Bradley as Pacquiao has already started doing training sessions in his hometown. Part of early sessions could be due to Pacquiao's campaign for a senatorial seat in the Philippines’ national elections in May. However, if Roach could have his way, he would prefer Pacman to spend much of their training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

“We’re trying to make it as short as possible, but right now I know Manny’s still campaigning to be the senator a little bit but I’m going to try to bring him back here [Wild Card Gym] as soon as possible,” Roach told Steve Kim of Boxing Scene. “We usually spend time in the Philippines for two or three weeks and then come the last four weeks here in LA.”