Best/Worst Trainer-Fighter Tandem-Top 5

[Beanflicker]

How about Alton Merkerson/Roy Jones? I guess it can be argued that Big Roy laid the ground work, but Alton joined Roy in '92 and won titles with him everywhere from middleweight to heavyweight.

[mikeeod]

How about Alton Merkerson/Roy Jones? I guess it can be argued that Big Roy laid the ground work, but Alton joined Roy in '92 and won titles with him everywhere from middleweight to heavyweight.

Honestly, I don't think Alton did much more than hold the mitts, the heavy bag and give positive reinforcement to Roy. Guy was so gifted n unorthodox that he broke every rule and made it work for him. You can't really train that in my opinion. I'm pretty sure anyone smart enough to just let Roy do his thing would've been equally "successful"...

[SugarBoxing]

good thread

[J_Undisputed]

How about Alton Merkerson/Roy Jones? I guess it can be argued that Big Roy laid the ground work, but Alton joined Roy in '92 and won titles with him everywhere from middleweight to heavyweight.

Honestly, I don't think Alton did much more than hold the mitts, the heavy bag and give positive reinforcement to Roy. Guy was so gifted n unorthodox that he broke every rule and made it work for him. You can't really train that in my opinion. I'm pretty sure anyone smart enough to just let Roy do his thing would've been equally "successful"...

In a way i agree, He occasionally reminded roy of certain things he was doing and shouldn't be like stepping straight back or told Roy what was working and what wasn't. A keen eye at being an observer and probably a second father figure. Big Roy probably did most of the conditioning early, but the problem is you really cant put him on the list either. As when roy brought him back in later (Tarver III, i think), there was just friction and I think roy even went as far as to blame him for the loss. Not saying roy was right... I'm just saying you can be a genius or a certified loon, it won't matter unless the fighter listens to you. Just like i think Cus and Tyson was better than rooney and tyson, It was the loss of Cus that had a lost tyson putting all that faith in Rooney. Looking at someone like de la hoya.. every one of his trainers "was the best he ever had" till he lost and then blamed them fired them and went with someone else.

Id like to add as a honorable mention on the worst list. Whoever the hell that guy was that told rahman to hold his arms straight out as a defensive tactic in the Lewis rematch. . Maybe thats (and the chris algieri plan mentioned above) should have its own thread for worst fightplans ever. Made for one of the funniest Ko's of all time when Rahman hit the canvas right under the crown in Kings logo and he's stretched out like he was making snow angels.