| |
|
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:
PACHECO CLASHES WITH ALEEM ON STACKED LA CARD , Thu, 18 Jun 2026Rising Mexican Contender Neider Valdez Steps in to Face Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo in WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Championship Fight , Thu, 18 Jun 2026Sumabong to defend WBO title against undefeated Taiwanese on July 11 in Bohol By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Jordan Orozco Remains Perfect with Dominant Third-Round TKO of Fernando Diaz on MVP/Boxlab Card in Orlando , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Floyd Mayweather Jr could face charges of fraud in Las Vegas By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026EDDIE HEARN SIGNS DIVINE OMOJOR FOR MATCHROOM BOXING ON LONG-TERM DEAL AS NEWCASTLE TEENAGE CRUISERWEIGHT TURNS PRO , Wed, 17 Jun 2026DC Trail Ultra on July 26 in Calinan By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Torre to grace Gov. Oaminal Chess Festival By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Apolinar, Santisima to fight on June 19 in Japan By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Canoy still waiting for his US visa for June 20 fight against Collazo By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026"Hand of Stone" Roberto Durán celebrates 75th birthday By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Sy-Tancontian excited on Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Jean Henri Lhuillier Backs RP Blu Girls' Intensive Japan Training Camp Ahead of Women's Softball World Cup By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Digos 2 Malita 70km Ultramarathon on June 20 By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 JUNE 2026: Bam Stops Vargas in 6; Wins by Michel Soro, Wilkens Mathieu, Elif Nur Turhan, Nataly Delgado and Abraham Perez By Eric Armit, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026Undefeated world champion Ataev faces experienced Venezuelan puncher Uzcátegui at IBA PRO 19 , Tue, 16 Jun 2026Full Fight Card Set for MF Pro’s “Pugilist Revolution” June 19 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach , Tue, 16 Jun 2026Campbell son of Ricky Hatton confirms ring return By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026Deaño to fight for ABF super feather title By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026Former champ Andy Ruiz could return against Huggie Fury in 2026 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026Mexican legend Jackie Nava inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 15 Jun 2026Ronnie Alvarez Dominates Filip Stankovic, Scores Seventh-Round TKO at Desert Diamond Arena , Sun, 14 Jun 2026THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|