Sports Interview: Trainer Freddie Roach Talks Pacquiao vs. Cotto

Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach (right).

Freddie Roach is the man behind the arguable pound for pound king in boxing, Manny Pacquiao. As the “Fighting Pride of the Philippines’s” legendary status has grown, Roach has become the most widely known and respected trainer of this generation. It’s a long way for the former boxer who said he started his Wild Card Boxing club in Los Angeles with $10,000 back in 1994.

Since then Roach has trained Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins, and even actor Mickey Rourke in the early ’90s when he took a break from the big screen. Roach prepares Pacquiao for his welterweight title bout with Miguel Cotto Live on HBO Pay-Per-View this Saturday, and a victory for his fighter would give Manny titles in an unmatched seven different weight divisions. Roach took a break from training to speak with Complex about why Manny is the best boxer of this generation, his prediction on Saturday’s fight, and whether he thinks a super fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2010 is realistic.