HBO Announces New Prime Time Series, “On Freddie Roach”

HBO and filmmaker Peter Berg will team up for the innovative new primetime series “On Freddie Roach”, directed and executive produced by Emmy nominee Berg (“Friday Night Lights”).

Presented by HBO and a co-production of Film 44 and Atticus Entertainment, the cinéma-vérité series focuses on Freddie Roach, the world-famous boxing trainer who owns and operates the famed Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, where he has produced a host of world champions.

This intensely personal look at Roach chronicles his life and career against the backdrop of Parkinson’s disease, an ailment very likely linked to his own boxing past.

“On Freddie Roach” debuts Friday, Jan. 20 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, with other new episodes debuting the subsequent five Fridays at the same time. All episodes will also be available on HBO On Demand and HBO GO.

“We are truly excited to partner with Peter Berg on this exceptional production,” says Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “Freddie Roach is an extraordinary person and a fascinating personality.”

“HBO’s enthusiasm in supporting a less-conventional, vérité style of storytelling is why they continue to create original and truly innovative programming,” says Peter Berg. “It’s why they are the best and we are very excited to be working with them.”

A native of Dedham, Mass., Freddie Roach has an extensive amateur boxing background. He fought as a professional under the tutelage of legendary Hall of Fame trainer Eddie Futch, ending his professional boxing career in 1987 with a record of 41 wins and 13 losses. Upon retiring, Roach became Futch’s apprentice.

In 1992, Mickey Rourke financed his first gym, the Outlaw Boxing Club. Roach has trained more than 20 world champions, including Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Oscar de la Hoya and Mike Tyson. He has been honored five times as Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America and has been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced a unique partnership with Roach in an effort to ensure that America’s top amateur fighters have access to the finest training in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. This partnership will create a program allowing up to ten Olympic hopefuls to train at the Wild Card Gym, which has become synonymous with world-class performance.

The 51-year-old bachelor lives next door to his mother, just a few miles from Wild Card.

“On Freddie Roach” is directed and executive produced by Peter Berg; executive produced by Jim Lampley, Sarah Aubrey and Michael Price.