By Radio Rahim

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach rejects any claim that his star fighter, Manny Pacquiao, tried to avoid a potential showdown in the coming months with WBO/WBC junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford (30-0, 21 KOs).

Two weeks ago, Roach was contacted by Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank. According to Roach, Arum called him and named Crawford as the only possible name for Pacquiao's next fight.

Roach was under the impression that Crawford would become Pacquiao's next opponent - but then Arum recently reached out again and handed Roach two other names because Crawford - due to his financial demands - was completely off the table.

Roach says the Crawford fight was a dead issue within a two week time span.

"Bob is really the one who is in charge of that fight. And at one time Bob offered us that fight and said that was the only opponent out there. Two weeks later he called me and gives me two new opponents, and said Crawford wants too much money and they just can't put it together and so forth," Roach told BoxingScene.com.

"That fight completely went away in two weeks time and then I was offered two new opponents, and he said which one would you rather have and there was one guy who was well known and one guy was not so well known. And I would rather take the guy who is well known."

Two names are now in play and most fans are not happy with either of them. One is undefeated welterweight contender Jeff Horn of Australia. Horn is now co-promoted by Top Rank. A hold has been placed on a large venue in Australia for April 22 (April 23 in Australia). The other name being kicked around is WBA junior welterweight champion Ricky Burns, who was previously in the running to fight Adrien Broner. Last year, Burns became the first boxer from Scotland to win world titles in three different weight divisions.