Freddie Roach great trainer: Overated, Underated or Truly Great?

[Ron Swanson]

How many of those guys did he teach? Mostly he gets finished products and then gets them ready for fights.
I think that, if you took a survey, the top reason fighters get sent to Wild Card is not a few rounds a week on mitts with Freddie. The main reason is access to top level sparring.

yeah but that's what Freddie has built


they come to Freddie's gym for the sparring


that adds to his trainer ability doesn't it?

That was what Freddie inherited. Freddie was the underling. Eddie Futch is the legend Freddie's career was built on.

I don't believe he inherited all of that. He respectfully learned all he could from Futch and good ol Mickey Rourke bought Freddie that gym with his fuck money.

Freddie is a great trainer and all greats are sought out by star fighters in hopes of making them just a little better. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Freddie did his thing but he started out getting good fighters because people thought "he learned from Futch so he must be great". Truth is if you look at years Freddie won trainer of the year you will notice those years line up with when he trained great fighters and that is not a coincidence at all. Great trainers make many good fighters, great fighters make good trainers look like great trainers. Think of how Steward built his name, same thing. If you have great fighters you look great.

[SlimTrae]

How many of those guys did he teach? Mostly he gets finished products and then gets them ready for fights.
I think that, if you took a survey, the top reason fighters get sent to Wild Card is not a few rounds a week on mitts with Freddie. The main reason is access to top level sparring.

yeah but that's what Freddie has built


they come to Freddie's gym for the sparring


that adds to his trainer ability doesn't it?

That was what Freddie inherited. Freddie was the underling. Eddie Futch is the legend Freddie's career was built on.

I don't believe he inherited all of that. He respectfully learned all he could from Futch and good ol Mickey Rourke bought Freddie that gym with his fuck money.

Freddie is a great trainer and all greats are sought out by star fighters in hopes of making them just a little better. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Freddie did his thing but he started out getting good fighters because people thought "he learned from Futch so he must be great". Truth is if you look at years Freddie won trainer of the year you will notice those years line up with when he trained great fighters and that is not a coincidence at all. Great trainers make many good fighters, great fighters make good trainers look like great trainers. Think of how Steward built his name, same thing. If you have great fighters you look great.

Great points all sides.
The Manny Steward factor is where/how i would say Emmanuel is better than Freddie.
Tommy Hearns Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko all developed a skill set. Similar in style. Reach and use of jab.
Freddie doesnt seem to have a standout regiment that develops an identified style.

Yet as said above....his gym totally outranks Kronk gym.

Could Freddie have spread himself too thin? Someone would get lesser time....and pay for it.

[greynotsoold]

Between Futch and fame, Freddie worked at a gym in La Habra, CA, in the Mexican neighborhood there. Baby Joe Ruelas fought out of there, I believe, and an Asian guy that has (had?) a boxing technique website.
@El Kabong the Figueroa gym has Omar, a former 'world' champ and his brother, who is 9-0. It was put together with Golden Boy and PBC money.

[SlimTrae]

I'd imagine. Roach's health would have him retire soon. Unless he and PAC are poor hittin' 'em.

When Arum, then recently Roach state they'd like Manny to fight two more times...
I've read many a trainer asking their prized pupil to walk away...its time.
But never read a trainer saying...not now. C'mon, just two more....minimum.
IMO:

Despicable.

[denilson200]

Overrated ? No.

Roach trained the fighter (who in my opinion) came the closest to beating Floyd when he trained Oscar for only 1 fight. Oscar was able to get a decision on one judge despite being faded already in his career and Jr. was in his prime.

I do think too many fighters believe Roach is a miracle coach and by switching to him it means automatic success and that is so far from the truth.

They need to continue putting in their work in the gym and outside the gym to get the results.

People can say “Roach is not that good because he gets the finished product”

But is Tyronn Lue an average coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers because he gets the finished product?

Is coach of the Brazil soccer team an average coach because he gets the finished product ?

Also being a great coach/trainer is not about devising tactics, it's also to do with understanding people, keeping people happy. Making sure there are no beefs. This is even more so with boxers.

At one time Roach had Mike Tyson. Jame Toney. Johnny Tapia all at the same time, all under his wing, all training at his gym and all getting on.

I mean that must take some skill keeping those happy. He got good results out of all of them. But dealing with those 4 personalities in training and trying to keep them focused is a gruelling task.

I think he did great with Chavez and totally reborn Cotto in an offensive predator like his early pre-margs days until he ran into Canelo

How many fighters has Floyd sr taken to the top besides his son? The dude has never been successful with any other fighters unlike roach

I would rate Nacho Beristain and Nazim Richardson alongside Roach as the best trainers of their generation.