Freddie Roach wants to see Pacquiao stay retired, says he has nothing more to prove

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach would rather see his top pupil Manny Pacquiao stay retired. Roach, who helped Pacquiao become an eight-division champion, says his fighter has nothing left to prove in the sport.

“I think he’s finished [with boxing]. I don’t think he has anything more to prove. He’s done everything he can, I feel. He doesn’t owe anything to anybody. If he does wanna come back and fight again, I hope he picks me as his trainer,” Roach told boxingscene.com.

“He likes going to different cities. He brings his family and his wife with him. He likes to travel. He’s doing something he enjoys. His wife doesn’t want him to fight anymore, from what I hear. If he calls me and asks me, I’ll tell him, ‘You don’t need to prove nothing to anybody in the world.’”

Pacquiao, 43, retired last year before officially announcing his Presidential bid, which he eventually lost last May. He last saw action against Yordenis Ugas in August where he lost by way of unanimous decision.

Other than not having anything to prove anymore, Roach says that Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, also wants to keep the Filipino boxing icon off the ring.

“If he’s willing to come back, I’d like to help him and wish him the best of luck. But his wife and everyone doesn’t want him to come back,” said Roach.

“There’s a lot more people that feel he doesn’t need to come back. What does he have to prove? He’s already been there.”

Pacquiao, who holds a record of 62-8-2 with 39 knockouts as a professional fighter, is slated to face South Korean martial artist DK Yoo in an exhibition on December 10.

—JMB, GMA News