Roach was a successful lightweight, with a 40-13 record before he retired at 26; he later developed Parkinson?s disease. Roach, who was tutored by Eddie Futch, has guided 28 boxers to become world champions. He was inducted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame and was recently elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The United States Olympic Committee has partnered with Roach, 51, to train the leading amateurs at Roach?s Wild Card gym in Hollywood for the 2012 Games in London.
His life will be chronicled by the filmmaker Peter Bergin in the HBO series ?On Freddie Roach? beginning Jan. 20.
Q. You still do some light sparring and padded glove work when you work with the boxers. Are you concerned about exacerbating your Parkinson?s?
A. I?ve found that the hand and eye coordination is the best thing in the world for me. It?s funny, but once I get into the ring, the tremors go away and everything is O.K. And I don?t get hit in the head too often. Maybe once in a while.
Q. Has boxing done enough for the safety of the fighters?
A. I think so. It?s really hard to pinpoint where the problems are. Some of the tests can show progression where the symptoms are getting worse, and that?s the biggest thing out there. They do a brain stimulation test in England where they pull your license if you test poorly. There are steps in the right direction.
Q. Have you connected with Muhammad Ali, who also developed Parkinson?s?
