Jorge Linares, Amir Khan, Manny Pacquaio and JC Chavez. The spat with Ariza, and now Khan leaving his stable. Add to that the constant drug accusations it's all gone south for Roach. The bubble seems to have burst with all his top guys tasting defeat and surrounded in controversy. What now for Roach? Was he THAT good a trainer, or was it a case of inherting a good crop of talented fighters? I guess you could say Manny was still his best project, and it looks as though its staying that way. Even he has questions marks over his recent career though. How did it all go wrong for Roach?
Two words celebrity status The Wild Card is the place you go if you want to learn to box according Vogue magazine, Freddie is the only celebrity boxing coach that exists, the aura has gone !
Chavez was expected to lose to Martinez. So that's hardly a knock on Roach for him not being able to win. And Pacquiao, to be fair, actually beat Bradley convincingly. Not much Roach can do about a robbery. But yeah, the past two fights involving Linares and Khan haven't been good. But that's how **** works. You can't go winning forever. You don't become an overrated trainer when your fighters begin losing fights. It can be a combination of those fighters not being good enough (Khan, Chavez and Linares) and those that are at the end of their careers (Pac).
Spreading himself too thin did not help. A lot of great trainers had long spells in purgatory as well before finding their groove back.
But I think Techinically Roach does have holes in his game. None of his fighters are ever able to adjust, including Pacquaio. Of course fighters have their limitations, but there never seems to be a plan B. They all fight one way, with no regard at all for defense. I'm not just basing that on Chavez who of course only has a forward gear and is technically flawed, but the rest too, even with their athletic ability, Linares, Pac and Khan, far too easy to hit.
I think it's a combination of fighters reaching a plateau and the old "silk pyjamas syndrome" Let's not get all shitty on the guy.Given his situation,this time was always going to come.
It's true, he's not superman, or bhudda or master yoda, we know that, but the manner of the collapse is interesting. There has been a lot going on in camp though, there is probably more that doesn't quite get out too, so we can't say it's all down to roach, other factors have been a hindrance. I am sure he just wants this year over with now, and rebuild. But he definitely needs to get a co-trainer in, as his powers are on the slide.
Roach made his name from Manny and that's why he's so well known now. Bad luck has also been a factor this year what with Manny on his way out (the fighter Roach is most known for) and stylistically Martinez was always going to beat a fighter who just walks forward.
His guys finally had to fight guys who knew how to adjust to win. Peterson brought pressure and Khan folded, and Freddy had no answer for how to reverse the problem. Pacquiao looked like **** against a guy who was not willing to just walk forward and get beat up, Roach once again couldn't get his guy to adjust, same for Jr. Roach couldn't get Jr. to adjust to the tactical mismatch. Now Freddy technically has a defensive fighter in Rigondeaux but Rigondeaux can't take a punch and looked very vulnerable last night. Add in the just plain suspicious **** his corner pulls and its all fallen apart. Overall this year has been a disaster for Roach.
