Roach: We'll be ready vs Floyd

MANILA, Philippines - All Floyd Mayweather Jr. has to do is get past Victor Ortiz in September, and the biggest fight in boxing history can still happen.

Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said they have not lost interest in a showdown between two of the sport’s biggest stars.

“We want that fight (Pacquiao-Mayweather) badly. We agreed to everything he asked for the last time... and nothing happened. Is it just talk or is it action?” Roach said in a report on boxingscene.com.

Roach, of course, was referring to Mayweather’s demand for the implementation of random blood testing in the weeks leading to the fight, something that played a major role in the collapse of previous negotiations.

Now the multi-titled trainer has put it on record that they have agreed to Mayweather’s demand for the tests.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan-born fighter is ending his more than two-year hiatus on Sept. 17 against Ortiz – a left-hander like Pacquiao. Boxing observers believe Mayweather is using the Ortiz bout as a prelude to a highly anticipated clash with the Filipino icon.

“He is fighting Victor Ortiz and he’s a southpaw. He has to beat Ortiz first and that’s not going to be an easy task. Last time, we agreed to everything he asked,” Roach said.

Pacquiao is booked to face Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time in November, after which a Mayweather fight may be right around the corner.

“On my side and on Manny’s side, we want that fight a hundred percent. We’re gonna fight Marquez in November and if Mayweather wants to fight the next day, we’ll be ready,” the bespectacled trainer added.

Dino Maragay, Philippine Star