RP lawmakers to commend Pacquiao trainer Roach

Manny Pacquiao might not have become the greatest fighter in boxing history today without the help and guidance given by American trainer Freddie Roach, who motivated the Filipino boxing champ to always aim for the top. And for helping Pacquiao reach a historic milestone in the sport of prizefighting - winning a record seventh division crown - Philippine lawmakers, led by House Speaker Prospero Nograles of Davao City, on Wednesday filed a resolution seeking the House of Representatives in commending Roach.

Pacquiao and Roach form one of the most awesome combinations in boxing today with the American trainer guiding Pacquiao in most of his career-defining victories. Pacquiao holds an impressive 18-win, one-loss and two-draw record since Roach manned his corner on June 23, 2001 when the "Pacman" scored a sixth round technical knockout of Lehlohonolo Ledwaba to snatch the South African’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) world super bantamweight crown. Fifteen of those wins came by way of knockout with the latest, a 12th round TKO against Miguel Cotto, giving Pacquiao a record seventh crown by grabbing the Puerto Rican’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship belt. "Because of Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao has become a ‘real national hero' making the Filipino proud of himself," the resolution read. It called Roach the "unsung hero" who has molded Pacquiao into a "multi-dimensional fighter." The resolution was co-authored by Buhay party-list representatives Irwin Tieng, Rene Velarde and Ma. Carissa Coscolluela. Roach, who was born in Dedham, Masachussetts, is known to be one of the world's best boxing trainers after being voted Trainer of the Year three times by the Boxing Writers' Association of America in 2003, 2006, and 2008. Aside from grabbing Cotto’s WBO welterweight crown, Pacquiao also collected the diamond-studded World Boxing Council (WBC) diamond belt, an honorary championship for elite boxers. [See: Pacquiao triumphs over Cotto] - GMANews.TV