He was excellent as it was, in terms of ability, so I don't think a differan trainer would have benefited him. He pretty much had the heavy handed crafty sharp shooter style perfected. As for management, if he'd been steered properly he could have been the undisputed second best lightweight of the Sweet Pea era. Didn't Pernell say Pendleton gave him his toughest fight? I could be completely mistaken. He definitely did better than Azumah Nelson, Ramirez, Paez, Nazario, or any number of other guys. I think Pendleton's big problem, aside from management, was what I think of as 'sparring partner' mentality. Freddy had a tendancy to watch rounds pass without asserting himself, in cases where he could have dominated or even stopped opponents. The Rafa Ruelas fight is a perfect example. Whether you though he won or lost, it was frustratingly obvious that he could have won going away if he'd put the pedal to the metal. He was a bit like Mike Weaver in that regard.
The impression I get; Journeyman skills but punches like a ton of bricks hitting you. -Tyrone Trice KO 1.... It took Simon Brown 14 and 10 rounds to Ko Trice. -Sammy Fuentes KO 1....... Julio Ceaser Chavez 10 rounds to KO Fuentes. -KO'd Tony Lopez and Uncle Roger.
He did handle Uncle Roger but a 16 year PBF used to whoop Freddies ass in the gym everyday. Unless he thought Freddie was going to buy him a walkman or a new pair of sunglasses since PBF was living with Freddie and his wife at the time.
