INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - It's not only Manny Pacquiao that is getting all the adulation, at least not in the House of Representatives.

Lawmakers led by Speaker Prospero Nograles are singing praises to Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, for conditioning the Filipino boxing superstar and helping him demolish his rivals in the ring.

They have filed a draft resolution acknowledging Roach's role in the spectacular wins that have made Pacquiao a national hero in the Philippines. The other authors of the measure are Buhay party list Representatives Irwin Tieng, Rene Velarde and Ma. Carissa Coscolluela.

Pacquiao's latest victory over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto gave him an unprecedented seventh title in as many divisions.

?As one of the most well-known trainers in the world, Freddie Roach is the unsung hero in the success of Manny Pacquiao, developing the latter into a multi-dimensional fighter,? the lawmakers said.

They added that it was under Roach's wing that Pacquiao became a hero and an inspiration for many of his countrymen.

The lawmakers also noted that Pacquiao's Massachusetts-born trainer has been honored thrice by the Boxing Writers Association of America as its Trainer of the Year. His last awarded was given to him in 2008.

?Roach is considered one of boxing's all-time greats and has trained 24 world champions like Mike Tyson, Oscar de la Hoya, James Toney, Manny Pacquiao and other great boxing champions,? they said.

They also pointed out that Roach ? whom Pacquiao referred to as his ?master? - had a knack for predicting the winner and outcome of important fights in the past two years. His skill was apparently so good that he has been dubbed by Doghouse Boxing as the ?Nostradamus of Boxing.?

A former boxer himself, the 49-year-old Roach is a familiar face to Filipinos, especially those who follow every minute of Pacquiao's training for his much-anticipated fights.

He has been credited with keeping Pacquiao in shape and keeping him focused on his training and on boxing. He has also been honing Pacquiao's fighting style to enable him to adjust to the techniques of his opponents.