FILE– Manny Pacquiao (L) talks with his coach, Freddie Roach, at Wild Card Boxing Club on August 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Michael Owens/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Freddie Roach has handled countless world champions throughout his hall of fame career as trainer.
But of all the fighters that have been under his guidance, Manny Pacquiao stands out the most.
Roach offered Pacquiao the ultimate praise as the Filipino boxing legend hinted at retirement following an upset at the hands of Yordenis Ugas on Sunday in Las Vegas.
“I said to him, ‘You are the greatest,’” Roach wrote on Twitter Tuesday with a photo of him and his most prized ward in a tight hug.
I said to him,“You are the greatest.” #legendary #Senator #boxer #fighter #boxing #family #wildcardboxing #fightlife #unbreakable #bond #TeamPacquiao @MannyPacquiao @WildCardBoxing1 @KnuckleheadSean @david_sisson35 @Marvin #JFortune #Buboy #Nonoy #Haplas @Boxerrodz #FtedSternburg pic.twitter.com/8j4eYiGbaG
— Freddie Roach (@FreddieRoach) August 23, 2021
The two first teamed up in 2001 when Pacquiao introduced himself in style, stopping the late South African champion Lehlo Ledwaba to win the IBF super bantamweight crown.
Twenty years later, Roach was at Pacquiao’s corner when the sport’s only eight-division champion fell to the underdog Ugas by unanimous decision.
“I hate to see the day he retires but this could be it,” said the 61-year-old Roach. “He didn’t have a great performance tonight. We’ll see what Manny decides.”