He didn?t know it as we spoke but former WBA light eavyweight champion Lou Del Valle?s unsolicited appreciation of Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach was timed well.
It was only hours later that we learned via Roach assistant trainer Jesse Reid that Joey Roach, youngest of the five Roach brothers originally from Dedham, Mass., had died of as heart attack in Las Vegas only 47 years old.
Del Valle is a trainer now, handling veteran Israel ?Pito? Cardona and others out of The Lion?s Den Gym in Middletown, Ct.
We started chatting about his former opponent Roy Jones and other boxers but Del Valle wanted to wax eloquently on Roach?s success in teaching and molding world champions. Del Valle?s pro record is 36-6-1 with 22 KOs.
In his tenure working as a trainer, ?Honeyboy? Del Valle, a southpaw and New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent, has come to appreciate that the job is not so simple. Some guys just grab a white towel, throw it over a shoulder and proclaim themselves trainers but Del Valle knows better.
What Del Valle has to say on Roach is not exactly a news flash especially for his fellow Boricua Miguel Cotto and his camp but it?s a contemporary trainer?s perspective and worth noting.
According to Del Valle, it?s Roach?s work ethic which boosts him ?as the greatest trainer in boxing.
?I just like how Freddie does his work in the gym. He is always working with Manny and the other guys on body shots and he wears the body armor so they can really dig into him with vicious punches,? Del Valle said.
?I think Freddie pays attention to all details. And look at how loyal he is to his fighters. He?s also able to get along with different personalities. James Toney must be tough to deal with but Freddie did it. Same thing with Mike Tyson. Freddie has a smooth way of dealing with various personality types and that helps him as a trainer as well. Freddie is a psychologist and a trainer.?
Switching topics, the personable Del Valle ranks Jones as the greatest light heavyweight ever ?because he would hit you and then disappear.? He ranks puncher Bob Foster and Michael Spinks as the second and third best 175-pounders.
How about current champ Bad Chad Dawson mixing it up with sly, old dog Bernard Hopkins?
?Dawson will destroy Hopkins,? Del Valle said. ?He won?t let Hopkins bullspit moves upset him. He will handle that.?
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Del Valle is now age 41 and about 20 pounds above his former fighting weight. Is he retired?
?I don?t yes and I don?t say no,? Del Valle said.
Watching his corner work with the depleted Cardona, who couldn?t handle the hand and foot speed of a revived Hector Camacho Jr. Saturday night in a PPV TV main event, I think Del Valle?s future is as a trainer.
Cardona tired over the 10 rounds but Del Valle and Reid kept trying to light a fire under the fading fighter.
