Roach was reacting to rumors that Pacquaio’s promoter Bob Arum and Broner’s adviser Al Haymon are finalizing a deal that calls for Pacquiao and Broner to face each other in the ring on Oct. 15.
“Broner’s a friend of mine,” said Roach, chuckling. “He is, I met him on his fourth pro fight. He was a much different person back then, he was real nice to me. But the old Manny is coming back a little bit and I can’t wait to see the fight and we’d be going for the knockout.” Roach added.
Roach likes Broner for Pacquiao’s next fight because he believes the Filipino star will have little problem disposing the talkative fighter for Ohio. Broner has won his last two fights since losing to Shawn Porter last year.
Both Arum and Roach believe Pacquiao will continue fighting despite his recent election to a six-year term in the Philippine senate.
During the promotional build up for the trilogy fight between Pacquaio and Timothy Bradley last April 9, Arum turned down the idea of promoting the fight as Pacquiao’s farewell fight because he knows from his past experience with retiring fighters that most of them come back after a brief retirement.
Arum is yet to hear from Pacquiao but he believes the neophyte senator will advise him to make arrangement for his next fight.
For his part, Roach, who is looking forward to a rematch with Floyd Mayweather said Pacquiao is good for a few more fights.
“There’s at least two more fights in him after this (Bradley fight),” said Roach.
Aside from Broner, the veteran promoter is also eyeing Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford for Pacquiao’s next fight.