Freddie_Roach_(boxing)

Freddie Roach

Freddie Roach

American boxer and boxing trainer


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.[4] 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,[5] Peter Quillin,[6] and Vanes Martirosyan. Roach was the trainer of two-time women's world champion Lucia Rijker.[7] He has also trained former light welterweight champion Amir Khan.

Quick Facts Born, Other names ...

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.[8]

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

40 Wins (15 knockouts, 25 decisions), 13 Losses (3 knockouts, 10 decisions), 0 Draws[9]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss 40–13United States David Rivello MD 10 1986-10-24 United States Lowell Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
Win 40–12Philippines Arnel Arrozal RTD 5 (10) 1986-08-14 United States Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood, Washington, United States
Loss 39–12England Andy Nance KO 10 (10) 1986-04-17 United States San Rafael, California, United States
Loss 39–11United States Darryl Tyson UD 12 1986-03-01 United States Convention Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States For WBC Continental Americas Lightweight title.
Loss 39–10Puerto Rico Héctor Camacho UD 10 1985-12-18 United States Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, United States
Loss 39–9United States Greg Haugen TKO 7 (10) 1985-08-22 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 39–8United States Joey Olivera UD 8 1985-06-30 United States Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 38–8United States Martin Morado TKO 8 (10) 1985-05-23 United States Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, United States
Win 37–8Mexico Jaime Balboa UD 10 1985-04-09 United StatesSacramento, California, United States
Loss 36–8United States Bobby Chacon MD 10 1985-03-05 United States Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, United States
Loss 36–7United States Efrain Nieves UD 10 1984-12-20 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 36–6Republic of Ireland Richie Foster TKO 8 (10) 1984-10-11 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 35–6United States Joe Ruelaz TKO 4 (10) 1984-08-09 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 34–6United States Tommy Cordova SD 12 1984-06-12 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For ESPN Super Featherweight title.
Win 34–5United States Efrain Nieves TD 8 (?) 1984-04-12 United States Portland, Oregon, United States
Win 33–5United States Delio Palacios UD 10 1984-03-21 United States Gilley's Club / Rodeo Arena, Pasadena, Texas, United States
Loss 32–5United States Louis Burke UD 10 1983-11-10 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 32–4United States Carlos Bryant UD 10 1983-08-25 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 31–4United States Reynaldo Zaragoza KO 8 (10) 1983-06-30 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 30–4United States Louis Burke UD 12 1983-04-14 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For ESPN Super Featherweight title.
Win 30–3United States Bobby Pappion TKO 9 (10) 1983-02-07 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 29–3United States Danny Cruz UD 10 1982-12-23 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 28–3United States Danny Cruz SD 10 1982-11-25 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 27–3Mexico Martin Galvan UD 10 1982-09-23 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 26–3Mexico Lenny Valdez TKO 2 (10) 1982-07-01 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 26–2United States Rafael Lopez SD 10 1982-06-11 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 26–1Puerto Rico Juan Veloz UD 10 1982-04-17 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 25–1United States Herman Ingram UD 8 1981-12-26 United States Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 24–1United States Mario Chavez SD 10 1981-05-28 United States Hacienda Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 23–1United States Jose Resendez PTS 10 1981-03-26 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 22–1United States Javier Flores TKO 8 (10) 1981-02-23 United States Caesar's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 21–1United States David Capo UD 10 1981-02-12 United States Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 20–1United States Joe Phillips UD 10 1981-01-17 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Won vacant USA New England Featherweight title.
Win 19–1United States Jose Resendez UD 8 1980-11-01 United States Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win 18–1United States Pedro Gonzalez KO 4 1980-10-09 United States Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 17–1United States Jose Resendez UD 10 1980-08-27 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 16–1Manuel Martinez KO 3 1980-07-11 United States Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 15–1United States Lionel Harney KO 6 (10) 1980-04-16 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 14–1Billy Martinez KO 2 1980-04-02 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 13–1United States Roberto Flores KO 1 (6) 1980-01-23 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 12–1United States Luis Avila PTS 6 1979-12-12 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 11–1United States Ruben Moreno UD 6 1979-10-24 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 10–1United States Beto Nunez PTS 6 1979-09-13 United States Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 10–0Mexico Francisco Pico UD 6 1979-08-29 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 9–0United States Desi Newbill UD 6 1979-08-10 United States Coliseum, San Diego, California, United States
Win 8–0Ricardo Hurtado KO 1 1979-08-02 United States Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 7–0United States Adolfo Hurtado UD 6 1979-07-25 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 6–0United States John Papin UD 6 1979-06-27 United States Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–0United States Ney Santiago TKO 6 (6) 1979-06-06 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 4–0United States Eddie Bracetty PTS 6 1979-02-03 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 3–0United States Eddie Bracetty PTS 6 1978-12-21 United States Portland, Maine, United States
Win 2–0Jose Maldonado KO 6 1978-09-16 United States Yarmouth, Massachusetts, United States
Win 1–0Roberto Vasquez PTS 6 1978-08-24 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Boxing trainer

Roach has trained 27 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.[10] 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.[11] He is one of the most popular trainers in boxing.[citation needed] 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.[12][13] Roach has trained 27 world champions to date[citation needed] 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.[14] 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.[15] Roach has also trained many other prominent mixed martial artists, such as: pro-boxer and kickboxer, and former EliteXC lightweight champion, K. J. Noons,[16] Roger Huerta,[17] and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.[18] In March 2010, Roach expressed interest in wanting to train former Pride FC and WAMMA heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko.[19]

Parkinson's disease

Roach suffers from Parkinson's disease.[20][21] 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

  • Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, "Expanded Category" (Managers & Trainers).
  • 2006 California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee (Non-Boxer)
  • 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 & 2014 Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year
  • 2008 World Boxing Council (WBC) "Lifetime Achievement Award"[22][23]
  • 2012 International Boxing Hall of Fame, Canastota, New York, United States Non-participant Inductee (Trainer of World Champions)
  • 2013 Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductee ("Trainers" Category)
  • 2021 USA Boxing Hall of Fame - Fighter, Trainer, Manager

Notable boxers trained

Key

Former world champions
* Current world champions
More information Nationality, Name ...

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

More information Name, Occupation ...

Notable mixed martial artists trained

Key

Former world champions
* Current world champions
More information Nationality, Name ...

References

  1. "Roach goes from 'coach' to 'master' – Fightnews". Archived from the original on 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  2. "A Quick Guide To The Freddie Roach Career". Boxing News and Views. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  3. Chelin, Pamela (October 3, 2013). "Zachary Wohlman, aka 'Kid Yamaka,' Is Boxing's Great Jewish Hope". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  4. "Zachary Wohlman, a.k.a. Kid Yamaka". Fight Network. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  5. Lawrence Donegan (December 5, 2008). "Big interview: Amir Khan's trainer Freddie Roach". The Guardian.
  6. News, ABS-CBN (14 October 2008). "Pacquiao coach Freddie Roach gets WBC award". {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)

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