As great a champion and good will ambassador as Manny Pacquiao has been for boxing, Freddie Roach cannot expect the same greatness as a trainer unless he can do the same for Amir Khan. Khan being touted by Roach as being on a level with Pacquiao in training sessions and sparring may be pushing more hype than fact. It is not the same thing as being in a real bout. The four time recipient of the title of ?Trainer of the Year? by the Boxing Writers Association of America, Roach has a long and distinguished career in the sport. As a boxer he compiled a record of 53 fights, 40 wins, 15 knockouts and 13 losses. His last set of fights consisting of 5 losses as early signs of Parkinson?s disease forced his retirement. After his boxing career ended he became a disciple of the late great trainer Eddie Futch. Working as an unpaid assistant, in the beginning, he learned the trade and was hired by movie actor Mickey Rourke to train him as he stepped aside from the movies for awhile. Eventually Rourke abandoned his pursuit of boxing and left the equipment for Roach. It is said that some pieces still remain in the Wildcard gym to this day. Even greatness as a trainer has its losses. Roach trained Oscar DeLahoya for his bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. which he lost. He trained Bernard Hopkins in his bout against Joe Calzaghe and Hopkins lost. He trained Mike Tyson against Danny Williams and Danny Williams won via knockout. Now he trains Amir Khan against the hard punching Marcos Maidana amidst a lot of promises and trash talking. But this is not Manny Pacquiao entering the ring or Freddie Roach. This is only another fighter trained by Roach who espouses to follow orders and do what he is told. Most of Amir Khan?s matches have been on the other side of the ocean which always leads to suspicion about the quality of his opponents. After hitting the canvas in a one round knockout by Breidis Prescott his sterling amateur career and championship belt took a hit in public opinion. His association and training with Freddie Roach has resulted in 5 wins his last over American Paulie Malignaggi in Madison Square Garden in New York City. The magic man Malignaggi was not the test to turn around the thinking about Roach. In a few hours Amir Khan will enter the ring and fight a puncher in Maidana like Prescott. If he has any lingering thoughts or doubts he will be in trouble. If he gets hit and becomes unable to think then Freddie Roach, his trainer will have to think for him. Give him instructions like he did for all his other fighters. In addition to enhancing natural physical gifts the person in the corner has to help the mental as well. If Khan gets in trouble and Freddie can pull him through then we will know something more about his greatness.
