By William Mackay: Freddie Roach probably doesn’t have more than a couple years left with his number #1 gravy trainer fighter Manny Pacquiao. Once Pacquiao is gone, there’s going to be a huge void left behind from which Roach is going to likely have problems finding anyone nearly as good. Roach is really hoping that WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO’s) can fill Pacquiao’s shoes once he’s gone.

Roach already sees greatness if Khan, despite the fact that he’s been matched against nothing but weak punchers like Oisen Fagan, Dmitri Salita, Andriy Kotelnik and Paulie Malignaggi, and one old small guy in 35-year-old Marco Antonio Barrera. Roach needs to hold off on seeing Khan as the next best thing until he actually can prove that he can beat a quality fighter like Timothy Bradley or a big puncher like Marcos Maidana. On Saturday night, Khan will get his chance to prove that he can beat one of the light welterweight division’s biggest punchers in Maidana. Roach might end up with crushed hopes if Maidana knocked Khan cold like the last big puncher Khan was in with did.

Speaking to the guardian.co.uk, Roach said “Will they [Khan and Pacquiao] ever fight? I hope not. They’re both my friends, although business-wise, it would be a great fight. Who would win? Manny probably is a little bit too smart for him right now, but it’s just a matter of time before Khan reaches his level.”

Roach really sounds hopeful and it’s going to be sad to see his dreams crushed by one of Maidana’s sledgehammer right hands. Maybe Roach won’t give up his dreams of Khan being the replacement for Pacquiao in the future. But if Khan is going to be as good as Pacquiao is, Roach is probably going to have to make sure Khan is selectively matched for the remainder of his career against guys that can’t punch or are too weakened by catch weights for Khan to get beaten. I don’t see Khan as the answer for Roach. I think he’s going to have to look elsewhere for his Pacquiao replacement fighter. I don’t see Khan being the one nor other Roach fighters Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Vanes Martirosyan. I think those guys are good fringe contenders but not future champions other than maybe paper titles.