Q&A Roach: Peterson is a great opponent for Pacquiao - Next

"Well, if you bring up Victor Ortiz or a Tim Bradley ... I think that Lamont is a better opponent for Manny Pacquiao than both of them," said Roach.

"Because he's a big guy, he had trouble making 140, and he came into the ring against Amir weighing more than 147. I like the action-packed fight that he fought with Amir Khan. I mean, that was tremendous. So I'm looking for good fights for all of my guys."

Below is the full interview with Roach in Q&A format.

RingTV.com: What does the Mayweather jail sentence mean for Pacquiao?

Freddie Roach: I can't really say what that means to Manny, but I spent one day in jail for a fist fight, and I hated that one day. And he's got 90 days.

I just hope that he stays out of trouble and I hope that he comes out okay.  Jail for day was no fun. So I figure that 90 days, that's gotta feel pretty miserable.

RingTV.com: Were you in jail for hitting somebody?

FR: Yeah, I hit somebody, of course. [Chuckles.]

RingTV.com: For people wondering what Mayweather's potential unavailability means for Pacquiao's future, can you share your thoughts on that?

FR: I haven't spoke to Manny about it, so I really can't say what Manny is thinking. I think that Manny is a pretty compassionate person.

I'm sure that he wishes the best for Mayweateher because he's that type of guy. But, again, I haven't spoken to Manny about it, so I can't really guess on how he feels.

RingTV.com: So you wouldn't want to speculate on whether he would consider a Bradley or a Marquez or anything like that?

FR: You know, there are fights out there. I think that Lamont Peterson is a great opponent for Manny Pacquiao if the [Floyd] Mayweather fight doesn't happen, in my opinion. That is, if Lamont really doesn't want to take the fight with Amir Khan.

There's other fights out there, yes, but the thing is, we are interested in Mayweather. If that can't happen because of Mayweather's issues, then that would be very disappointing.

But hopefully, the negotiations will continue, and we'll give him enough time to get ready and vice versa, and hopefully, it will happen.

RingTV.com: Since you brought it up, what makes you think of Peterson as an opponent for Pacquiao?

FR: Well, if you bring up Victor Ortiz or a Tim Bradley, then I think that Lamont Peterson is better than both of them. I think that Lamont is a better opponent for Manny Pacquiao than both of them.

He's a big guy, he had trouble making 140, and he came into the ring weighing more than 147. I like the action-packed fight that he fought with Amir Khan, I mean, that was tremendous. So I'm looking for good fights for all of my guys.

Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank Inc.

Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com