Few may be aware that Freddie Roach, 47, who is famous for having helped Manny Pacquiao become one of the most dangerous boxers in the world, also fought as a professional from 1978 to 1986, amassing a win-loss mark of 39-13 with 15 knockouts.
Besides Pacquiao, Roach also trains Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De la Hoya and a bunch of Filipino fighters from Cebu. He is the recipient of numerous awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America and prestigious boxing publications like The Ring for his training methods. He also briefly trained Mike Tyson.
If you weren’t into boxing, what would you have been doing?
I would be a tree surgeon just like my father Paul. (Tree Surgeon: A specialist in treating damaged trees)
Fighters you would have loved to train
I feel happy with the fighters I train today like Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya…
Favorite Movie
The Natural (starring Robert Redford)
Favorite Actor
Sean Penn
Favorite City
Manila (outside Los Angeles)
Favorite Food
Italian