Los Angeles — Inside Hollywood’s Wild Card Gym, owner and boxing trainer Freddie Roach molded Manny Pacquiao into the sport’s pound for pound best fighter.
Yet like any fighter, the good times will eventually come to an end. Some speculate the Filipino might have two fights left in his career- with one already scheduled on March 13 against Joshua Clottey.
As the boxing world focuses in on Pacquiao and his exploits, Roach has taken steps to assure his shelves does not run bear by bringing in two high-end fighters with bright futures.
Amir Khan (junior welterweight, 22-1, 16 KOs) has been under Roach’s tutelage for a few fights and now looking to make the leap across the pond from the United Kingdom to the United States.
Khan’s true athletic upside is still in question after suffering several knockdowns and a loss early in his career, but his potential marketability is great.
A Muslim, Khan can tap into a religious demographic that has not had a fighter to support en mass since Naseem Hamed was making waves in the 1990s.
Current rumors point to Khan dumping his U.K. promoter Frank Warren to join Los Angeles based Golden Boy Promotions. If these murmors prove to be true, this maneuver would assist Khan in his quest to become a state-side star due to Golden Boy receiving several television dates from HBO Boxing each calendar year.
Multi-division titles might not be in Khan’s future, or legendary in the ring performances, but he could leave his mark on the sport as a ticket seller and television draw.
Roach has also has taken 17 year old Jose Benavidez Junior under his wing and will nurture a talent that has been compared to Floyd Mayweather Junior, Miguel Cotto, and other boxing luminaries.
Benavidez has signed a promotional contract with Top Rank and has been guaranteed eight televised fights during 2010. Top Rank’s willingness to commit television dates to a fighter with no Olympic background and who debuted professionally Saturday night, speak to Benavidez’s tremendous upside.
Pacquiao was polished by Roach, it will be interesting to see how Roach will mold a perceived once in a lifetime blue-chip prospect from his first fight as a professional.
Pacquiao’s days maybe numbered as a professional fighter, but Roach has a roster of talent to keep him in the limelight for years to come.
