Boxing trainer Freddie Roach Jonathan Moore/Getty Images/AFP
HOLLYWOOD—The lights are on as health buffs exercise and boxers train at Wild Card Gym on Monday night.
Life goes on at the sweatshop here where Manny Pacquiao honed his skills, under the guidance of Freddie Roach, to reach boxing’s pinnacle of success.
But Roach knows that with Pacquiao’s retirement, the hustle and bustle at his gym will ease soon.
The seven-time Trainer of the Year swears he wouldn’t have reached the top had Pacquiao, accompanied by his late manager Rod Nazario, not knocked at Wild Card’s door in 2001.
Left-fist wonder Pacquiao did the mitts with Roach and, instantly, the latter felt he had found a rough diamond.
Their journey together started when Pacquiao stunned Lehlo Ledwaba to win the International Boxing Federation super bantam crown on his US debut at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
It will eventually take them to several world titles, making Pacquiao one of the greatest fighters ever and Roach the best trainer of his era.
Both have aged. Pacquiao is now 37 and Roach 56.
Pacquiao ended his illustrious ring career Saturday night when he beat Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision in their third fight at MGM Grand.
Now bothered by back (sciatic nerve) pains, Roach says he’s no longer keen on opening Wild Card’s doors to men claiming to be the next Pacquiao.
“I know for a fact that in our lifetime, we won’t live long enough to see another Manny Pacquiao,” said Roach. “Because nobody’s going to do what he did: [world] titles in eight weight divisions. It’s not going to happen.”
