Roach says Pacquiao must now fight Crawford

Freddie Roach insists he was told that only rising star Terence Crawford was being considered to be Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.

In a report by boxingscene.com’s Keith Idec, Roach said Crawford was the only name mentioned by Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum when they talked about Pacquiao’s return fight about two weeks ago.

“The last time I talked to Arum, he called me up and he told me that Crawford is the guy we’re trying to make and so forth. And he said, ‘You’re gonna have to fight him sooner or later. You might be better off fighting him now,’” said Pacquiao’s longtime cornerman.

Outside of Crawford (26-0, with 21 KOs), other candidates look like patsies.

“I tried to get a hold of Manny, but Manny’s on vacation with his kids,” he added.

Things, however, have changed with Crawford now out of the picture. Pacquiao reportedly wants a guarantee of $20 million to fight Crawford, an amount that might be too steep for a fight Arum plans to air on free television.

Arum also plans to stage Pacquiao’s next fight – tentatively set in April – outside the United States. Australia is a candidate, with Brisbane-based prospect Jeff Horn as a likely opponent in case Pacquiao indeed ends up fighting Down Under.

Roach, for his part, said the information is new to him.

“But now [Arum] tells me that Mike Koncz [gave] him another opponent. So I guess he’s been talking to Arum, also. But Arum only gave me one name and that was the only name he gave me was Terence Crawford.

Roach has long been studying Crawford, the undefeated WBC and WBO super lightweight champion who’s being groomed to be the next Top Rank superstar.

He better start turning his attention to Horn, a qualified schoolteacher raring to get a shot at Pacquiao.