While Freddie Roach is opposing the proposed April tune-up fight of Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino ring icon’s business partner Rex “Wakee” Salud sees it as good preparation.

Salud, a known boxing promoter in Cebu City, said that it’s OK for Pacquiao to fight four months after he absorbed a terrible knockout loss from Juan Manuel Marquez. He explained that Pacquiao needs a huge morale booster before he fights Marquez anew hopefully in September this year.

“It would be very beautiful to see if Manny would beat one guy first before fighting Marquez to increase his morale,” Salud told The Manila Times in a phone interview on Tuesday. “It’s also good for the business aspect [of the fight]. Anyway, the doctor would advise him if he can or can’t fight.”

Salud believes a positive approach heading to a fifth fight against Marquez is needed, “It will enhance his [Pacquiao’s] fighting skills too. At the same time, it is hard to go to a September battle if you are not smart and aggressive enough so I favor the tune-up fight,” he added.

Ukranian Vyacheslav Senchenko, Brandon Rios and American Jessie Vargas are among the candidates for Pacquiao’s next opponent.

But Salud added that Roach’s opinion, coming from a trainer’s perspective, should be considered seriously. Roach wants Pacquiao to take a long rest before training for a fifth showdown against Marquez.

“I don’t like that April or May tune-up fight because it is too soon. I’m thinking of a fight maybe until September,” Roach earlier told boxing website boxingscene.com.

“I respected Freddie’s comment as trainer but my opinion is it’s best for Manny to fight in April because it is very hard to become rusty physically and mentally before September comes. It is a preparation fight. Manny can still have full-time rest even though a fight in April is set.”

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s personal adviser Mike Koncz is set to talk with Top Rank Promotion head Bob Arum on the possible alternative venues for the tune-up fight since it can’t be done in the US because the suspension imposed on Pacquiao’s boxing license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission is still in effect until April. Both parties are considering Singapore, Abu Dhabi or Macau as alternative venues for the bout.