Roach: I’ll Tell Pacquiao to Retire If He Loses to Rios

Freddie Roach has made it clear that he will advise Manny Pacquiao to hang up his gloves for good is he suffers a third successive defeat at the hands of Brandon Rios on 23 November.

There were suggestions that Pacquiao would retire from boxing after suffering a brutal sixth round knockout at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez. However, the Filipino legend confirmed that he would return later this year against Rios, who is also coming off the back of a defeat.

With a career in politics already under way Roach had accused his fighter of being distracted and not properly preparing as he suffered defeats to Tim Bradley and then Marquez.

Nevertheless he has continued to train the 34-year-old who will be desperate to get his career back on track, especially with his great rival Floyd Mayweather continuing to prove his excellence with a 12 round demolition of Robert Guerrero.

While Pacquiao will be thinking only of victory, Roach has warned that it is his job to protect his fighter and he will encourage him to retire if he is defeated by Rios.

"If he loses, I will tell him to retire." Roach is quoted as saying in the Metro. "If you lose three in a row it's your time. He's up there in age. I've got to keep a close eye on him. It's part of my job to protect him. I will do the right thing."

Rios is also looking to get his career back on track after suffering his first professional loss to Mike Alvarado back in March. The American is a dangerous puncher and has never been afraid to drag his opponent into a war.

He will certainly represent a dangerous opponent for Pacquiao who will certainly have plenty of support and almost a home advantage as the bout will take place in Macau, China.