Pacquiao's trainer shares boxing spotlight

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao was a unanimous choice for numerous boxer or fighter of the year awards. But Pacquiao would have not done it without the help of Freddie Roach as his trainer, coach and corner man. And for whipping up Pacquiao into the fighter that he was today, Roach was the unanimous choice as Ring Magazine and Yahoo Sports’ 2008 trainer of the year. Roach is the man behind Manny Pacquiao’s legendary rise in 2008. The one who molded him to be the fighter that he is today that is being admired by millions in the Philippines and respected by the boxing world. Just imagine Pacquiao without Roach training and mapping out his battle plan. Will Pacquiao be the same if he did not chose Roach to start training him in 2001? Pacquiao is a truly gifted fighter, a diamond in the rough that Roach honed and polished in order to reveal his true power and great ability. In the seven years under Roach’s guidance, Pacquiao recorded 17 wins in 21 fights with 15 by way of knockout. He was held twice into a draw and suffered his lone loss, a unanimous decision, in his first meeting with Erik Morales. Roach then guided Pacquiao to a 3-0 record in 2008 fighting in three weight divisions. First was a split decision win against Juan Manuel Marquez, in a match that could have gone into the Mexican’s favor but the judges saw it otherwise thanks to Marquez' being knocked down by Pacquiao in the third round. He then helped Pacquiao show David Diaz his punching power when he beat the then World Boxing Council lightweight champion to a pulp in a ninth round technical knockout win. Roach’s biggest challenge was preparing Pacquiao against boxing’s poster boy and six-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya. Roach, however, was confident that Pacquiao would beat De La Hoya even saying that the former Barcelona Olympics gold medalist could no “longer pull the trigger". Roach’s comment received numerous reactions from the sports’ elite but his fighter proved his prediction when a speedy and elusive Pacquiao demolished De La Hoya forcing his opponent to call it quits after eight rounds. Next for the master and his prized student is a possible May 2 bout with reigning International Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton. There are also rumors of a possible match against the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. while Marquez is challenging Pacquiao for a rematch. Another possible 2009 fight for Pacquiao is against Venezuelan Edwin Valero, who is also under De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. But expect Roach to further refine Pacquiao’s fighting skills whoever his ward faces inside the ring. – GMANews.TV