Freddie Roach Sees No Threat On Floyd Mayweather Sr., Says Undefeated Son Is Easier To Beat With Floyd Sr. In Command
Seven-time trainer of the year Freddie Roach sees no threat on Floyd Mayweather’s father Floyd Sr. piloting the undefeated fighter’s training camp. Roach believes that the elder Mayweather’s training camp role will give them an advantage come the May 2 showdown between his protégé and Floyd Jr.
The Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will be the fifth consecutive bout that the undefeated fighter will have with his father Floyd Sr. as the head trainer and corner man. Roach recently made a remark on his counterpart and thinks that Mayweather is easier to beat with Floyd Sr. in command.
“The dad’s not a good trainer, he’s not as good a fighter,” Roach told Rappler. “He keeps telling me how great he is, but it takes him 10 minutes to say one word in the corner.”
According to Roach, the elder Mayweather’s brother Roger is the “better fighter and the better trainer.” He said that Mayweather has had more wins with Roger on his corner than with anybody adding that the five-division world champion made a mistake of letting his father take over his training regime.
Mayweather has exchanged trainers between his father and uncle Roger after turning professional in 1998. Floyd Sr. had commanded Mayweather’s corner until 2000 before he was dismissed shortly.
In the latter part of 2012, Floyd Sr. reunited with his son. He was there during Mayweather’s bouts against Robert Guerrero and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2013. Floyd Sr. was also in his son’s corner during the Marcos Maidana fights in 2014.
Roach, on the other hand, had been with Pacquiao since 2001. Roach was there during Pacquiao’s notable wins over other great fighters, namely, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and Ricky Hatton. Since his appointment as Pacquiao’s head trainer, the Filipino had won all but five fights.
Roach and the elder Mayweather have been involved in a rivalry of their own ever since the much-anticipated fight that features their protégés have been laid on the discussion table. Now that it is finally happening, it seems that the two head trainers might soon trade jabs of their own.
In the latest development about the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, ESPN reported that there will be only press conference for the super fight, which will take place on March 11. However, the location of the press conference is yet to be decided upon but it is anticipated that it will be held in Los Angeles.
Pacquiao is already in the U.S. for his eight-week training camp. The Filipino will begin his training with Roach’s assistants before the seven-time Trainer of the Year takes over on March 8. Mayweather has also started training camp on March 2.
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