Is there a more successful tandem or partnership in sports than reigning World Welterweight Champion, the pride of Sarangani Province Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, and his trainer, Freddie Roach? I don't think so. Manny is Batman to Freddie's Robin...but not exactly. Sometimes, I wonder who is driving the batmobile. Who cares. Both are capable. A sure sign of a good team.
In his career, Manny has won in eight different weight classes. Flyweight to Light Middleweight. 108 pounds to 154 pounds. Manny has fought all comers in 8 weight classes. In 58 fights, his record is 53-3-2. Really astounding. Arguably, Manny is the best pound for pound boxer in the history of boxing. And Freddie has been at his side, as trainer during his professional ascendancy. You may know about Manny. But, who is this Freddie Roach character?
Freddie, 51, was a professional boxer, a lightweight, from a boxing Massachusetts family. He had a respectable record and actually fought for the world championship in the 1980's. He lost. His biggest payday was $7500. After his career ended, Freddie worked as busboy and waiter in Las Vegas. On the side and on the cheap (free), he worked as an aid to Hall of Fame trainer, Eddie Futch. He learned his craft from Eddie and he too, Freddie, became a professional trainer.
From his years as a boxer, Freddie contracted Parkinson's disease while in his 40's. Parkinson's is a crippling disorder of the brain that leads to tremors and difficulty in walking and moving. Nonetheless, Freddie arrives at his gym, Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, everyday to train the best fighters in the world. The stallion of his current stable is 8 time world champion Manny Pacquiao.
The medical experts say that Freddie's Parkinson's condition has stabilized for the time being. Why? They feel because of Freddie's intense physical work with Manny and the other boxers that has actually slowed the progress of the disease. And these are no pansy workouts. Freddie gets into the ring with pads and mitts and runs his pugilists through a battery of boxing drills. You must see it to believe it. With the shakes and all, Freddie takes some of Manny's best shots albeit protected by a chest pad. Talk about courage and guts. No wimps allowed in that gym.
This past Saturday, Manny and Freddie were on boxing's world stage again against challenger, "Sugar" Shane Mosley for the WBO World Welterweight Championship from a packed MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Manny did his thing in the ring while Freddie did his thing outside the ring. Both magic. And the result? Another win for the team. Manny kept the World Championship belt and received $20million purse for the 12 round fight.
After a rather dull workmanlike fight, the hapless Jim Gray asked a smiling but weary Manny in an interview, "you weren't sharp tonight." Manny responded, "my legs were tight but I fight to make the people happy." I don't know about the people being happy but I do know one person is really happy, and that is, Freddie Roach. He's not waiting tables and busing dishes anymore in Vegas. Some of that $20mil purse is rightfully his and Manny knows it.
Right now, Manny and Freddie own Vegas and the boxing world. And it couldn't happen to a better duo.
As for Floyd Mayweather, Jr., you don't belong in the same sentence with....the above.
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