IamInuit's post on Bertos corner got me thinking. How many first class trainers are left in the sport and does Freddie Roach in particular provide his fighters with a major advantage?
I am persuaded training boxers is almost always learned as an apprenticeship, so the pedigree of a trainer often says something.
I think Freddie is the last of the Eddie Futch line of trainers.
I don't think any Ray Arcel/Whitey Bimstein/Charley Goldman disciples are left.
No Jack Blackburn disciples left.
I suppose Sweet Pea is a disciple of Lou Duva although I don't really know how active he is as a trainer.
Buddy McGirt is the only Al Certo disciple I can think of.
Nacho Beristain is the only Cuyo Hernandez disciple I know of.
Manny Stewart is mostly self-taught.
Teddy Atlas is the only disciple of Cus even remotely active I believe.
How many other current trainers learned at the foot of a great?
I think the answer is not many and maybe not any. I am happy to be corrected on this assertion.
When I grew up watching and learning the sport (began around 1970) it seemed like every time I watched a fight there were legends in each corner. Arcel vs Dundee or Futch vs Hernandez or Duva vs Clancy. Now it often seems like one stud trainer against an overwhelmed guy, or two overwhelmed guys.
I think Freddie Roach learned from the best of the best and offers his fighters a relative advantage over their foes few others have ever brought. Am I nuts?
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