| |
|
Roach now a ?son? of Gensan
By Edwin G. Espejo PhilBoxing.com Tue, 05 Nov 2013

Multi-awarded boxing coach Freddie Roach, who molded Manny Pacquiao into a fearsome knockout machine, has been adopted ?son? of General Santos City.
In a resolution passed this morning?s 17th regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, November 5, members of the city council cited Roach?s role in the phenomenal rise of Pacquiao into boxing stardom.
Roach first took Pacquiao under his wings in 2001 and promptly steered Pacquiao into winning his second world boxing crown by having himself in the Filipino?s corner when the latter knocked out Lehlo Ledwaba in the 6th round that year.
Since then, their partnership has spanned more than 12 years and six more world championship in as many more division, making Pacquiao the only professional boxer to win world boxing championships in 8 different weight divisions.
Sponsored by Pacquiao?s longtime lawyer and now city councilor Franklin Gacal Jr, the resolution made the 53-year old coach, the most recognizable foreigner in the city today.
Roach is in town for the final leg of Pacquiao?s training and has been deluged by fans eager to have their pictures taken with him.
He often roams around SM City Gensan, just across Pacquiao?s Wild Card Gym named after the American?s LA gym where Pacquiao have been training since they first met.
This is the first time since 2005 that Pacquiao did not have a single training day in Roach?s gym in Los Angeles.
Roach has trained several world boxing champions but it is his relationship with Pacquiao that earned him Coach of the Year in four separate years by the Boxing Writers Association of America, in 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Roach was present when the city council passed the resolution.
It was also covered by HBO which is doing a 24/7 special on Pacquiao?s return to the ring against Brandon Rios on November 24 in Macau.
Roach later posed with city officials at the main entrance of the city council building.

Click here to view a list of other articles written by Edwin G. Espejo.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weigh-In Results for Sanman 101: Laurente Eyes Home Victory , Fri, 12 Jun 2026Arleah Cassandra Sapuan of Valencia, Negros finishes ninth in Las Vegas chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 12 Jun 2026EVERY WORD FROM THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF BAM VS. VARGAS IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA , Fri, 12 Jun 2026IBA President warns Olympic movement will fade unless IOC rewards athletes and reforms now , Fri, 12 Jun 20262026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106 By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’ , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes , Wed, 10 Jun 2026Steven Butler to face Edgar Berlanga on July 26 at the Infosys Theater of the Madison Square Garden in New York , Wed, 10 Jun 2026Nimal Farmer scores signature win over Michael Anderson at Prudential Center , Wed, 10 Jun 2026H2O EAGER TO MAKE STATEMENT AGAINST FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOJO DIAZ IN HOMETOWN HEADLINER JUNE 19 , Wed, 10 Jun 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 JUNE 2026: Ramirez SD Lerrone; Baumstarh SD Bustillos; Vazquez, Mindoro Win in Texas; Yabuki, Moloney, Casimero and Angeletti Win in Japan By Eric Armit, , Tue, 09 Jun 20262026 NBA Finals: Spurs Take Game 3, Beat Knicks in New York 115-111 By Reylan Loberternos, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Casimero still rocking By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Mascarinas faces tough competition in 66th San Carlos Charter Day By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Raymond Muratalla Defends IBF Lightweight World Title Against Former Champion Robson Conceicao in Explosive Co-Main Event to Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda , Tue, 09 Jun 2026IBA represented at the United Nations World Cup Diplomacy Summit in New York , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Historic Costa Rican former champ Bryan Vasquez is arrested By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Bruce Wren Tatad of Tanza, Cavite rules National Age Group Chess Championship ; vying Singapore chess tilt By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Suslenkov to face Joyce in a thrilling showdown at IBA PRO 19 in Moscow , Mon, 08 Jun 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|