THE American trainer, who handled eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao when he won his first world title, the World Boxing Council flyweight crown with an eighth-round knockout of Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul, has advised the Filipino ring icon to avoid a fight with World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Terence Crawford, who demolished Manny’s sparring partner Dierry Jean in 10 rounds on Sunday.
Staheli told The Standard/boxingmirror.com that “it’s a dangerous fight. Just stay away from him. Crawford is not a huge name and Manny won’t make big money.”
The undefeated Omaha native has a record of 27-0 with 19 knockouts.
“Crawford is going to be tough for anybody,” said Staheli of the “Fighter of the Year” last year.
He said former sparring partner and one-time stable-mate Amir Khan would be the best fight.
“But they are claiming negotiations never started,” said Staheli, who is an astute analyst and a fine trainer.
He believes that Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse, who has also been prominently mentioned as a possible opponent “is an easy fight for Manny. He’s got decent power but is not that good.”
Crawford dominated every round against Jean, a Canadian by way of Haiti, who was one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners when he was preparing for the “Fight of the Century” against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May 2.
Crawford dropped Jean three times in the fight before referee Tony Weeks called a halt to the contest at 2:30 of the 10th round. At that time, Crawford was battering Jean, whose trainer Marc Ramsay had stepped onto the apron to want to stop the fight, but apparently had a change of heart and stepped down, only postponing the inevitable.