Make no mistake Manny Pacquiao would have been a great fighter regardless of who was training him. From a physical stand point the 30 year-old Filipino legend is incredibly strong, possesses lightening fast hand speed and is gifted with a fitness level that allows him to control the tempo of a fight whenever he chooses.
All of the above have undoubtedly contributed to Pacquiao?s success in the ring over the last few years and made him the most feared fighter in the sport today. But it is his trainer of the last seven years, Freddie Roach, that has tweaked and honed the pocket powerhouse into not only the world?s number one pound for pound fighter but also elevated him from a great fighter into an excellent all round one.
The numerous battles with Mexican legends Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez of course enhanced Pacquiao?s reputation as an all action crowd pleasing battler and well deserved superstar status. But it was the impressive victories over Marquez(sd 12), David Diaz(tko 9) and the complete destruction of Oscar De La Hoya (tko 8) in 2008, that have surely made him a future inductee into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
Granted, Pacquiao may well have beaten Marquez,Diaz and De La Hoya regardless who was training him but there is no doubt Freddie Roach?s tactical input prior to the aforementioned fights and his contribution in the corner, that resulted in Pacquiao?s total dominance of Diaz and De La Hoya. Lets also not forget that Pacquiao stepped up a division against Diaz to claim the WBC lightweight title and a further two weight classes to completely crush the ?Golden Boy? and hand him the worst beating of his career. On both occasions Roach planned Pacquiao?s tactics perfectly,resulting in him claiming far easier victories than anyone could have imagined.
Since the famous victories over Morales and Barrera, Roach has considerably improved Pacquiao?s balance, defensive skills and got him punching equally hard with both hands.
Another trainer deserving of a mention and one could argue, equally deserving of SecondsOut Trainer of the Year is Javier Capetillo, the trainer of Antonio Margarito. The Mexican strongman impressively knocked out Kermit Cintron inside six rounds back in April and followed that up by inflicting defeat on the previously unbeaten Miguel Cotto in September.
But when the votes were tallied up to decide SecondsOut?s Trainer of the Year for 2008-Los Angeles based Freddie Roach ran out a clear and deserving winner.
