Freddie Roach (boxing)

Infobox Boxer


name=Freddie Roach
realname=Freddie Roach
nickname=La Cucaracha (Spanish for "The Cockroach")
weight=Lightweight
nationality=Flagicon|USAmerican
birth_date=birth date and age|1960|3|5
birth_place=Dedham, MA
death_date|=
death_place|=
style=Orthodox
total=53
wins=39
losses=13
draws=0
no contests=1
KO=15|

Freddie Roach (born March 5, 1960 in Dedham, MA) is a boxing trainer and a former boxer. He is somewhat famous in The Philippines due to being Manny Pacquiao's trainer and having a monopoly on Filipino boxers that train at his gym.

Pro Boxing Career

Known as "La Cucaracha" and "The Choir Boy", Roach turned pro in 1978 and spent most of his career as a Lightweight journeyman fighter. Roach was on the losing end of most of his high profile bouts. He dropped fights to former super lightweight champ Bobby Chacon and former lightweight champs Greg Haugen and Hector Camacho Sr.. Roach relied on a durable fighting style, and tried to outlast opponents in the ring. He was willing to take a shot to give a shot and ultimately this took its toll. Roach only went 13-12 in the last part of his career after starting 26-1.

Boxing Trainer

Roach is the owner of the Wildcard Boxing Club in Los Angeles, and is currently one of the most popular trainers in boxing. Roach was voted Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2003, 2006 and 2007. Roach trains lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao and trained Oscar De La Hoya for his May 5 2007 superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He is currently training former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski and was one of his primary trainers for Arlovski's victory over Ben Rothwell on July 19th at Affliction's inaugural show. [http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ys-mmaweekaa071108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns]

Fighters Trained

Among the boxers/boxing world champions who have trained under Roach at some point of their career are:

*Steve Collins
*Virgil Hill
*James Toney
*Mike Tyson
*Diosdado Gabi
*Manny Pacquiao
*Bobby Pacquiao
*Michael Moorer
*Frankie Liles
*Roman Karmazin
*Wayne McCullough
*Peter Manfredo Jr
*Oscar De La Hoya for his May 5th, 2007 fight against Floyd Mayweather, Jr..
*Wladimir Klitschko (assistant trainer)
*Dimitri Kirilov
*Juan Carlos Gomez
*Israel Vasquez
*Rey Bautista
*Vanes Martirosyan
*Marlon Starling
*Lucia Rijker
*Bernard Hopkins
*Andrei Arlovski
*Gerry Peñalosa
*Brian Viloria
*Bernard Hopkins
*Ana Julaton
*Amir Khan (boxer)

Parkinson's Disease

It is frequently noted on HBO that Roach suffers from Parkinson's disease due to injuries sustained during his boxing career. Roach severed a training relationship with Wayne McCullough due to McCullough's insistence on continuing to fight despite a cyst on his brain. [ [http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Feb-05-Sun-2006/sports/5696858.html reviewjournal.com - Sports - Roach drops McCullough because of health concerns ] ]

Honors

*Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, "Expanded Category" (Managers & Trainers).
*2006 California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee (Non-Boxer)
*2006 Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year

References

External links

*boxrec|id=3014
* [http://boxing.typepad.com/kevin_on_boxing/2007/02/roach_scorches_.html?c6408128 Arum feud]