A LOOK AT THE TRAINERS: FREDDIE ROACH AND ROGER MAYWEATHER
A SKETCH OF FREDDIE ROACH
Freddie Roach, the Boxing Writers Association of America's Trainer of The Year in 2003 and a frontrunner for the 2006 award as well, is a former pro fighter from Dedham, Massachusetts who shared the ring with former world champions Bobby Chacon, Hector Camacho, and Greg Haugen over the course of an eight year pro career that saw him lauded as one of the game's toughest competitors and an exciting television fighter while he compiled a 39-13 (15 KOs) record.
During his career as an active fighter, Roach, absorbed the teachings of his trainer, the legendary Eddie Futch, and soon he began his own career molding champions as a trainer. Since then, he has trained 18 world champions, including Manny Pacquiao, James Toney, Mike Tyson, Virgil Hill, Israel Vazquez, and Wayne McCullough. Roach, 46, also developed a reputation throughout the boxing community as one of the last true teachers in the sport, and he has taken that role seriously while imparting his knowledge to the rising stars of the game, such as US Olympians Vicente Escobedo and Vanes Martirosyan. On May 5th, he will be in the corner for another boxing superstar when he leads Oscar De La Hoya into battle against Floyd Mayweather.
A SKETCH OF ROGER MAYWEATHER
He won world titles at 130 and 140 pounds as he defeated such fighters as Sammy Serrano, Mario Martinez and Vinny Pazienza, and he also engaged in unforgettable battles with Julio Cesar Chavez (twice), Kostya Tszyu, and Pernell Whitaker over an 18 year career.
One of the most potent offensive machines of the 80's and 90's, Roger Mayweather began boxing at the age of eight and went on to an impressive professional career where he compiled a record of 59-13 with 35 KOs. Known as 'The Black Mamba', Mayweather actually began his career strictly as a boxer before developing frightening power in his right hand and becoming a potent boxer/puncher. He won world titles at 130 and 140 pounds as he defeated such fighters as Sammy Serrano, Mario Martinez and Vinny Pazienza, and he also engaged in unforgettable battles with Julio Cesar Chavez (twice), Kostya Tszyu, and Pernell Whitaker over an 18 year career.
After retiring in 1999 following a three-fight winning streak, Mayweather, a Grand Rapids, Michigan native who now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, transitioned from being a part-time trainer to a full-time one. Mayweather's most accomplished pupil is the young man he launched into the pro game, his nephew, Floyd Mayweather, who is universally recognized as boxing's best pound-for-pound. Mayweather, 45, has also worked with female pound-for-pound queen Laila Ali, former world champion DeMarcus Corley, and a host of world-class boxers. Mayweather will be in his nephew's corner on May 5th.
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