When Freddie Roach signed his first contract with a major promotional company, he thought he finally had it made. A fierce and fearless lightweight, he landed a four-fight deal with Top Rank that called for a big payday and the promise of a title shot. When Roach got knocked out in a fight he and his handlers thought he’d win, it voided the rest of the contract. But he remained with the promoter on a fight-by-fight basis, becoming a popular fixture on ESPN in the 1980s. Now a Hall of Fame trainer for stars such as Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, among others, and proprietor of the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood, Roach weighs in on his transition from the ring to the apron and some of the issues facing the fight game.
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I was an ESPN fighter. I was good for ESPN because I tried hard and I bled a lot. So I had no trouble getting TV fights. But the right fights, I missed. I didn’t have a manager to look out for me. But I can’t blame anyone for that. That was my choice. I didn’t want to pay somebody 33 1/3 (percent) to get fights for me when I could get fights off my promoter.”
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On ignoring trainer Eddie Futch’s advice: Eddie told me never have a gym. It’s a pain in the ass and it’s a lot of work. I said, that’s OK. You never know who the next Muhammad Ali is that walks through your doors. So I built the gym. I had $10,000 at the start and I had $50 left at the end. I opened the gym and it made rent from day one. Never was in the hole. About six months later, Manny Pacquiao walks through my door and I says, “There’s my Muhammad Ali.” That was 15 years ago. Best day of my life.
On the gym business: For the gym (and a connected pro/gift shop), I pay about $10,000 a month. And we always take in more than that. Some months are better than others. But we never have to go into our pocket and pay out of the fight money. I won’t say we’re (profitable) by a lot. When Manny Pacquiao is in town, that’s a better month. Everything is selling. The shirt. The flag. We had Sylvester Stallone come in the gym one day with his brother to watch Manny spar. That’s even more reason for people to come here, and then they’re probably going to buy something.
On the perils of head injuries and his own bout with Parkinson’s disease: The neurological problems that come because of punches, believe me, I know better about that than anyone in the world. Some people call me a hypocrite. But, really, I’m looking out for my fighters’ best interest and I’m looking out for safety first. I’ve never gone into a fight that I didn’t think my fighter could win. If my guy has an opponent that he can’t beat, we won’t take that fight. So I do try to watch out for my fighters. They are the most important thing in the world to me. I’m 56 years old, never married and have no kids — because I have 14 kids at the gym.
On health, safety and money: People want to talk about safety issues. They went from 15-round (fights) to 12 rounds. Was that a safety issue? No. I mean, let’s face it. A 12-round fight fits perfectly within a one-hour time slot. TV doesn’t work off hour-and-a-half time slots anymore. A 15-round fight is too long. They can’t do that. They say it’s safety for the fighter, but that’s bullshit. It’s because it fits in the time slot better.
On his recent Under Armour deal: If they sponsor me and pay me some money, I’ll be their best customer. Right now, I have nothing in my closet but Under Armour shirts, shorts, shoes and socks. I wear it every day. I’m not going to get mixed up and pull out an old Nike shirt that I liked, because I gave all them away. … (Pacquiao) would never wear the right stuff. Maybe that’s why his Nike deal ended.
On competition from MMA, where he also trains fighters: To stay on top we have to have the best fight the best. It’s getting a little bit better. … But they better get all the way there, because if they don’t the UFC and MMA will put us out of business. When boxing is the best fighting the best, (MMA) can’t compete, in my opinion. And I do train “GSP” (Georges St.-Pierre) and others. I’m not at all against that sport.
