freddie roach

Frederick Steven "Freddie" Roach [born on March 5, 1960] is an American boxing trainer and a former professional boxer. Roach is of Irish, Canadian and French descent. Roach is one of the most well-known boxing trainers in the world, having been voted Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. He is currently the trainer of eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, IBF and WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan, top prospects Jose Benavidez, Peter Quillin and Julio César Chávez, Jr.. Roach was also the trainer of former two-times world champion and arguably one of the best women boxers Lucia Rijker.

Roach was trained by his father Paul Roach at a young age along with his brothers Pepper and Joey. 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 legendary trainer 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 the 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 Beto Nunez. Freddie would rebound and go on to contend twice for the world championship.

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.

source: wikipedia