Hopkins is one of the cheapest guy around. Im sure he didnt want to pay Roach but they're still on friendly terms. Dont know how much Roach could teach him at this point other than laying out a strategic gameplan, which Richardson is showing (as in the Mosley Margarito fight), he is certainly capable of doing.
Roach simply thought Hopkins should retire after the Calzaghe defeat. He said that Bernard was going to the wrong corner between rounds during the fight and if Bernard continued fighting it would damage his health. Roach refused to train Hopkins for the Pavlik fight. Not sure if they're on friendly terms.
Roach is usually great at getting his man in fighting shape if nothing else, look at the shape he got Tyson back into against Ettiene before Tyson took another year out. Hes not teaching Hopkins anything he doesnt know however and Hopkins looked in better shape against Pavlik, I think the strategy of sitting back and looking for the counter right wasnt the best against Calzaghe, I had Hopkins winning but it was too negative Hopkins could have lead more
He apprenticed under argueably the greatest strategist in the game, Eddie Futch. Hes all about strategy. Getting a fighter in shape is not the toughest if hes willing.
After B Hop floored Calzage with utter ease early Freddie really failed to do what was needed of him in that sit and deserved canning...am i wrong here?
Apprenticing doesnt mean hes as good as, otherwise Teddy Atlas would be a great trainer. And whatever happened to Kevin Rooney?
But he is. I think hes proved it by working with several champions, along with making several champions, including the biggest fighter in boxing right now Manny Pac. Teddy Atlas and Kevin Rooney have done fine for themselves. Just because your not on HBO 24/7 every week doesnt mean you dont have credentials as a great trainer.:good Did you know Kevin Rooney trained Hasim Rahman his entire amatuer career?
And Hasim still can't throw inside punches after working with Rooney :huh I read Benitez was trained at the catskills whats the story with that?
Whats the old sang, you cant make chicken salad out of chicken ****? A lot of these guys like Roach and Emanuel Steward get the finished products of someone elses work these days, because theyve put in their time. Some of them are tweaked and improved more, and some are not. Kevin Rooney had a big gambling and alcohol problem. His reluctance to leave the Catskills also hurt his chances of working with some of the better fighters. Atlas in my opinion is just plain nuts! His style is just a little too in your face and it was hard for anyone to work with him. He did pretty well with Moorer and Junior Jones I think. I heard about the Benitez story. Apparently they were dirty people. I think that was the Atlas days.
Ohhhhh the 1s who chased after 11yo girls and wiped their ass on clean towells I must have read about that prior to knowing who Benitez was
