Four-time Trainer Of The Year, Freddie Roach, turned 50 on Friday, and celebrated his birthday, in part, as a guest at The Santa Anita Race Track on Sunday.
There, Roach took part in the Winner’s Circle ceremony of The Joe Hernandez Stakes, presenting the trophy for the afternoon’s featured race.
On Friday, even on his birthday, Roach was spending his milestone day doing what he loves best — training, three-time Fighter Of The Year, and, one-time Fighter Of The Decade, Manny Pacquiao, and others, at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.
A seven-division champion, the 31-year-old Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) is preparing for his March 13, WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title defense against Ghanian-born Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs) of The Bronx, in New York, to be held at The Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium in Arlington, Tex.
But on Friday, FanHouse caught up with Roach, who reflected on his life as a trainer, and his influences, such as his late mentor, Eddie Futch. Roach touched on what his life is like enduring Parkinson’s Desease, and many other things. Roach and Pacquiao will break camp on Monday to leave for Texas.