LEGEND FREDDIE ROACH TURNS 60!

Happy 60^th birthday Freddie Roach! Today, one of the world’s greatest ever boxing trainers celebrates an incredible milestone in life.

A sport made so brilliant for Roach because “the best, can fight the best,” the Boxing Hall of Fame member is truly a legend himself.

Widely regarded as one of the finest men to have in a corner, Roach has guided Manny Pacquiao to victory over Ricky Hatton, Mike Tyson when beating Clifford Etienne, Oscar De La Hoya in the build up to fighting Floyd Mayweather and Amir Khan to huge stardom and success.

Growing up under the iconic wing of Eddie Futch (Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, and Trevor Berbick all Futch alumni,) it was no wonder that The Master Roach thrived as a trainer himself.

Following an early retirement due to signs of Parkinson’s disorder aged 26, the once featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight athlete transitioned from a Futch student to an exciting apprentice. Learning the ropes under an original Thriller in Manila organiser, ‘The Choir Boy’ is in-part responsible for some of the greatest bouts in history.

Combat sports a passion for the American, La Cucaracha (The Cockroach) trained MMA, UFC and kick boxing competitors as well. The voice whispering in the ears of UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski, MMA fighter Dan Hardy and once Elite Xtreme Combat Lightweight Champion K.J. Noons, no illness would step in the way of his crucial work.

Roach’s ill-health aided by an ability to control the disease through hand eye co-ordination and boxing, the seven-time Boxing Writers Association Trainer of the Year, remains running his Wild Card boxing gym with a soft velvet glove and a stern iron fist.

A sought-after coach, one feels as though Roach always puts his prodigies before himself. Having grown up in an abusive household and around boxing-obsessed father Paul Roach, there is a strong desire to pass down his knowledge and to do so whilst truly caring for his students.

Knocked out by Mike Tyson in sparring and the cut man for Tyson Fury’s original bout with Deontay Wilder, the boxing world is lucky to have Freddie Roach in it. The master of fight strategy and preparation, technicality and power, Wladimir Klitschko, will along with Israel Vazquez and those best known in the sport, testify the talent of today’s birthday boy!
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Noah Abrahams articles
Photographer – Inquirer