Roach’s record started to catch the eyes of Eastern promoters, including Bob Arum. Arum and matchmaker Teddy Brenner saw Roach defeat Bugman Phillips, David Capo (who has a victory over former WBA junior featherweight champ Leo Randolph) and Flores, a solid journeyman handled by Utah’s Marv Jensen. The first two bouts were in Boston as Roach had a successful homecoming and the Flores bout in Atlantic City.
Roach was most impressive in stopping Flores on cuts and out pointing Phillips. The hometown crowd was impressed by Roach’s moves in that 10-rounder. Midway through the fight, Phillips tried to make Roach lose his cool. He showboated–holding the ropes with one hand–but a non-plussed Roach stuck him with a stiff left jab. Then he followed with a right. In the final rounds, he raised red welts on Phillips’ midsection with a series of punishing body punches. At the final bell, Phillips was holding on after being jarred by two uppercuts. In his dressing room, the loser praised the winner.
“He did everything I wanted to do,” Phillips said. “He kept the pressure on me. I remember him as a 14-year-old amateur and I didn’t feel he was strong enough to beat me. Hey, he is a helluva fighter. He has a lot of skill. He rocked me once; he rang my bell good. And he takes a helluva punch, too. He is just a good one.”
Arum, always on the lookout for talent, agreed with Phillips. “He is a super little fighter,” Arum said. He is a crowd-pleaser with a lot of talent. He is all guts; he has all the guts in the world. His father and Eddie have done a good job with him, absolutely.”
Arum signed Roach to a four-bout contract and has said he will try to get a shot at Sergio Palma, the Argentine who decisioned Randolph, for him. The WBC’s 122-pound champion, of course, is the awesome and unbeaten Puerto Rican Wilfredo Gomez. Roach respects both champions, though he knows little about Palma.
But another part of his education which came this year has added to Roach’s confidence about handling himself well against world-class opposition. “Mr. Futch took me down to Miami,” Roach said, “and I got to spar with my favorite fighter, Alexis Arguello. I think he might be the best in the world. It was a real experience for me. Alexis taught me a lot. Working with him has to help me.”
His career has accelerated quickly but Roach remains cautious, awaiting the word from his teacher, before he proclaims himself ready for a world championship bout. “Things are happening for me,” Roach says. “The past two years have gone by quickly. I’m ready for anybody but it’s up to Mr. Futch. I just have to keep in shape. I’m getting up there. But the title is the only thing that matters. I haven’t seen Palma yet but Gomez is real good. I pick him to beat (Salvador) Sanchez (if Gomez moves up to featherweight.)”
Futch sees a world title shot as less than a year away. “I’d say it is about nine months away,” he says, “and, yes, I’d prefer Palma. But I think Gomez is moving up anyway.”
And what if promoters could lure Palma to Boston? The kid who is being branded the best Irish-American fighter since Joey Archer could benefit by having his father in his corner and his mother as a not so impartial voting judge. “She might vote against me,” Roach jokes. “She started judging because she felt she could judge better than most of the guys up there.”
The final word belongs to Freddie’s father. He’s touting another of the Fighting Irish, his son Joey. “Joey is 106 pounds,” the father says. “And he’s a five-time New England champ. I’m bringing him to Vegas soon.”
Mexican boxers might think they are seeing double, but they better not let the face fool them.
EDITOR’S FINAL NOTE:
Freddie Roach (born March 5, 1960 in Dedham, MA) is a boxing trainer and a former boxer. He is currently one of the most popular trainers in boxing, and has coached several current champions to world titles. Some of the boxers he has trained include Manny Pacquiao, James Toney, Vanes Martirosyan and Mike Tyson. Freddie Roach was voted “2003 Trainer of the Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Roach will train Oscar De La Hoya for his May 5 superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr..
