Freddie Roach Explained

Freddie Roach
Weight:
Birth Date:1960 3, mf=yes
Birth Place:Dedham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height:5 ft 8 in
Style:Orthodox
Total:53
Wins:40
Losses:13
Ko:15

Frederick Steven Roach (born March 5, 1960) is an American boxing trainer and former professional boxer. Roach is widely regarded as one of the best boxing trainers of all time.[1] He is the enduring boxing coach of the eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, five-time and four-division world champion Miguel Cotto, former WBC middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr., three-time world champion James Toney, former UFC middleweight and two-time welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, as well as top prospects Jose Benavidez,[2] Peter Quillin,[3] and Vanes Martirosyan. Roach was the trainer of two-time women's world champion Lucia Rijker.[4] He has also trained former light welterweight champion Amir Khan.

Early life and boxing career

Roach was trained by his father Paul Roach at a young age along with his brothers Joey and Pepper. In an interview with Dan Patrick on the AUDIENCE channel, Roach disclosed that throughout his youth, he was involved in over 300 street fights. Fearing for his own safety in one fight, he claims to have bitten another man's eye out in self-defense.[5]

As a teenager, he was a dominant force in the New England amateur and AAU ranks. Roach turned pro in 1978, fighting as a lightweight and won his first 10 bouts. Roach trained under Eddie Futch and went 26–1 before appearing in a historic match at the Boston Garden on June 11, 1982. The card that night was the first of two times that all three Fighting Roach Brothers appeared at the same time. Brothers Joey and Pepper won their undercard bouts but in the main event, Freddie lost a unanimous decision to Rafael Lopez. Freddie would rebound and go on to contend twice for regional championships. Late in his career, Roach, who was known for being able to take on a barrage of punches, began showing early signs of Parkinson's disease. Futch asked Roach to retire but the boxer refused and continued to fight with his father as his trainer. He went on to lose five of his last six fights before retiring at age 26. His best payday was $7,500.

Professional boxing record

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"|40 Wins (15 knockouts, 25 decisions), 13 Losses (3 knockouts, 10 decisions), 0 Draws[6] |- style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Res.| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Record| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Opponent| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Type| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Rd., Time| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Date| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Location| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Notes|- align=center|Loss|align=center|40–13||align=left| David Rivello||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|40–12||align=left| Arnel Arrozal||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|39–12||align=left| Andy Nance||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|39–11||align=left| Darryl Tyson||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|39–10||align=left| Héctor Camacho||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|39–9||align=left| Greg Haugen||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|39–8||align=left| Joey Olivera||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|38–8||align=left| Martin Morado||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|37–8||align=left| Jaime Balboa||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|36–8||align=left| Bobby Chacon||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|36–7||align=left| Efrain Nieves||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|36–6||align=left| Richie Foster||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|35–6||align=left| Joe Ruelaz||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|34–6||align=left| Tommy Cordova||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|34–5||align=left| Efrain Nieves||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|33–5||align=left| Delio Palacios||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|32–5||align=left| Louis Burke||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|32–4||align=left| Carlos Bryant||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|31–4||align=left| Reynaldo Zaragoza||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|30–4||align=left| Louis Burke||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|30–3||align=left| Bobby Pappion||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|29–3||align=left| Danny Cruz||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|28–3||align=left| Danny Cruz||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|27–3||align=left| Martin Galvan||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|26–3||align=left| Lenny Valdez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|26–2||align=left| Rafael Lopez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|26–1||align=left| Juan Veloz||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|25–1||align=left| Herman Ingram||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|24–1||align=left| Mario Chavez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|23–1||align=left| Jose Resendez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|22–1||align=left| Javier Flores||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|21–1||align=left| David Capo||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|20–1||align=left| Joe Phillips||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|19–1||align=left| Jose Resendez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|18–1||align=left| Pedro Gonzalez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|17–1||align=left| Jose Resendez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|16–1||align=left| Manuel Martinez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|15–1||align=left| Lionel Harney||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|14–1||align=left| Billy Martinez ||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|13–1||align=left| Roberto Flores||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|12–1||align=left| Luis Avila||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|11–1||align=left| Ruben Moreno||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Loss|align=center|10–1||align=left| Beto Nunez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|10–0||align=left| Francisco Pico||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|9–0||align=left| Desi Newbill||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|8–0||align=left| Ricardo Hurtado||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|7–0||align=left| Adolfo Hurtado||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|6–0||align=left| John Papin||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|5–0||align=left| Ney Santiago||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|4–0||align=left| Eddie Bracetty||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|3–0||align=left| Eddie Bracetty||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|2–0||align=left|Jose Maldonado||||align=left||align=left||- align=center|Win|align=center|1–0||align=left|Roberto Vasquez||||align=left||align=left||- align=center

Boxing trainer

Roach has trained 40 world champions to date. After his retirement from fighting, Roach worked in a variety of jobs around Las Vegas including telemarketing and a busboy before taking a job with his former trainer and mentor Eddie Futch as an unpaid assistant in 1986.[7] He excelled in his new position and worked as Futch's assistant for five years.

In 1991, actor Mickey Rourke returned to boxing midway through his acting career, and hired Roach to train him in Hollywood, California. In 1995, when Rourke decided to quit boxing, he gave gym equipment to Roach, and it can be found in the Wild Card Boxing Club on Vine Street.

Roach owns the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles and works alongside his brother Pepper.[8] He is one of the most popular trainers in boxing. Roach's prized ward is eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. Roach also once trained Oscar De La Hoya for his May 5, 2007 superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. His first world champion was Virgil Hill, whom he took over from his own former trainer, Eddie Futch. He is also the former trainer for British boxers Gary Stretch (former WBC light middleweight champion), training Stretch for his WBO middleweight title challenge against Chris Eubank, and Amir Khan, who became the WBA light welterweight champion on July 18, 2009, and the IBF light welterweight champion on July 23, 2011, under Roach's tutelage. Roach also trains welterweight boxer Zachary "Kid Yamaka" Wohlman among many others.[9] [10] and can usually be seen nearby when his boxers are interviewed.

In the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), Roach has trained former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski and was one of his primary trainers for Arlovski's victory over Ben Rothwell on July 19 at Affliction's inaugural show.[11] He has also trained MMA fighter Dan Hardy for his fight with Marcus Davis at UFC 99 as well as MMA greats, Tito Ortiz, Anderson Silva, and B.J. Penn. In May 2010, he began a training engagement with Georges St-Pierre in advance preparation for the fighter's successful UFC welterweight title defense against Josh Koscheck at UFC 124.[12] Roach has also trained many other prominent mixed martial artists, such as: pro-boxer and kickboxer, and former EliteXC lightweight champion, K. J. Noons,[13] Roger Huerta,[14] and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.[15] In March 2010, Roach expressed interest in wanting to train former Pride FC and WAMMA heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko.[16]

Parkinson's disease

Roach suffers from Parkinson's disease.[17] [18] As chronicled in the HBO series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, he is able to actively control the disease through medication, injections, and his training of boxers. Roach's doctors feel that his active in-ring training routines with his fighters and tremendous eye-hand coordination that he has to exhibit have made it possible to slow the progress of the disease.

Honors

Notable boxers trained

Key

Former world champions
Current world champions
Nationality Name Weight Class Notes
Cuba Super bantamweight
Philippines Manny Pacquiao
  • Flyweight
  • Super bantamweight
  • Featherweight
  • Super featherweight
  • Lightweight
  • Light welterweight
  • Welterweight
  • Light middleweight
Mexico Middleweight
Mexico style="background:#faecc8;"Heavyweight
Puerto Rico Middleweight
Russia Light welterweight
Ukraine Heavyweight
Ukraine Light welterweight
United Kingdom Light welterweight
United States Light middleweight
United States Daniel JacobsMiddleweight
United States James Toney
  • Cruiserweight
  • Heavyweight
United States Michael MoorerLight heavyweight
United States José RamírezLightweight
United States Mike TysonHeavyweight
Venezuela Lightweight
PhilippinesMark MagsayoFeatherweight

In popular culture

Roach has trained men who are not professional boxers for roles in TV and film.

NameOccupationTrained forDurationNotes
NBA playerShaq Vs.2 EpisodesTrainer for Shaquille O'Neal for both Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley matches[21]
ActorThe Fighter-Trainer for Mark Wahlberg[22]

Notable mixed martial artists trained

Key

Former world champions
Current world champions
Nationality Name Weight Class Notes
AmericanAaron PicoFeatherweight
BrazilianMiddleweight
BelarusianHeavyweight
AmericanWelterweight
AmericanLightweight
Japanese Lightweight
English Welterweight
American Heavyweight
Dutch Gegard MousasiMiddleweight
Brazilian Featherweight
American Lightweight
American Middleweight
American Lightweight
American Lightweight
Brazilian Light heavyweight
Cameroonian Light Heavyweight
American Lightweight
American Light heavyweight
Canadian Middleweight

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Freddie Roach: The Best in the Business. 9 June 2014.
  2. http://www.toprank.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23700&ATCLID=204912005 Profile of Roach-trained prospect Benavidez – Top Rank Boxing
  3. Web site: 265-001 - Boxing News 24/7. 24 January 2014.
  4. Web site: A Quick Guide To The Freddie Roach Career. Boxing News and Views. 16 March 2016. 2016-04-25.
  5. https://www.boxingnewsandviews.com/2019/02/22/freddie-roach-reveals-horrifying-gruesome-details-of-his-most-extreme-street-fight/ Freddie Roach Reveals Horrifying Gruesome Details Of His Most Extreme Street Fight, Boxing News and Views
  6. Web site: Freddie Roach Professional boxing record . BoxRec.com.
  7. http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3482/freddie-roach-takes-center-stage/ Thesweetscience.com
  8. Web site: Pepper Roach Interview on Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather Jr, James Toney, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Prediction and More!.
  9. Web site: Chelin . Pamela . Zachary Wohlman, aka 'Kid Yamaka,' Is Boxing's Great Jewish Hope . LA Weekly . October 3, 2013 . March 31, 2014.
  10. Web site: Zachary Wohlman, a.k.a. Kid Yamaka . Fight Network . March 31, 2014.
  11. Web site: Boxing's Freddie Roach working with Andrei Arlovski. 11 July 2008 .
  12. Web site: It Begins: GSP Honing His Knuckle-Game With Freddie Roach - Cagepotato. 13 June 2018 .
  13. http://mmajunkie.com/news/14332/former-elitexc-champ-k-j-noons-drops-decision-in-weekend-boxing-bout.mma Former EliteXC champ K.J. Noons drops decision in weekend boxing bout
  14. Web site: Roger Huerta.
  15. http://www.watchkalibrun.com/2009/4/30/860473/freddie-roach-really-likes Freddie Roach really likes training NMA fighters
  16. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/mma/post/2010/03/freddie-roach-reflects-on-mma-fighters-boxing-abilities/1 Freddie Roach ruminates on NMA fighters' boxing abilities
  17. Web site: Big interview: Amir Khan's trainer Freddie Roach . The Guardian . Lawrence Donegan . December 5, 2008 .
  18. Web site: FREDDIE ROACH PREDICTS ARLOVSKI TO KO FEDOR- MMA WEEKLY – Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more . 2009-01-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090125132635/http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=7910&zoneid=3 . 2009-01-25 . dead .
  19. Web site: Pacquiao coach Freddie Roach gets WBC award. ABS-CBN. News. 14 October 2008.
  20. Web site: FREDDIE ROACH RECEIVES WBC AWARD.
  21. Web site: Shaquille O'Neal hits Las Vegas to take on Shane Mosley in boxing ring. 8 July 2010.
  22. Web site: Mark Wahlberg Fitness Program For The Fighter - How Celebs Get Fit . com. 28 May 2011.