Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao (Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank)
By Chris Robinson
During a recent swing through the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, I caught up with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. to follow up on a BoxingScene.com report from Ryan Burton about the trainer’s possible involvement in a new boxing reality series that will likely be launching early next year.
When asked about what his role on the new series might pertain, Mayweather Sr. was quite vague, but did hint that he may find himself competing against other well-known trainers in the sport.
The concept sounds similar to the “Contender” series that launched on NBC in 2005, and while discussing the new project, Mayweather Sr. couldn’t help but praise his own abilities as a teacher.
Then, out of nowhere, Mayweather Sr. took a big swipe at another one of today’s more revered trainers.
“I’ll tell you one thing. I will say this right here. They can say whatever they want to say about Freddie ‘The joke coach’ Roach,” Mayweather Sr. said of the Five-time Trainer of the Year.
“They can say what they want to say about him, because that guy wasn’t nobody that [Miguel] Cotto fought,” Mayweather Sr. added.
Roach, of course, was instrumental in seemingly reviving Cotto for his past training camp, as the Puerto Rican stare produced an electric performance in demolishing former title challenger Delvin Rodriguez in under three rounds earlier this month.
Still, Floyd Sr. was far from impressed, as he compared Rodriguez to his son Floyd’s recent opponents, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Robert Guerrero, who he both beat convincingly within a four-month span earlier this year.
“That guy wasn’t nothing compared to the last two guys Lil’ Floyd fought,” said Mayweather Sr. “[They] was supposed to be beasts. Lil’ Floyd beat both of them like they were sub-novice fighters. You can’t dispute that.”
I asked Floyd Sr. whether or not Roach and Cotto would be able to deliver if a rumored fight with Sergio Martinez were to come off next summer.
“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy,” Mayweather Sr. stated. “I’m just giving you my honest opinion.”
It was obvious at this point that Mayweather Sr. wasn’t going to drop any kind words about Freddie, but I had to ask if he was at least could give Roach some respect for his work in guiding Filipino star Manny Pacquiao to eight world titles during their time together.
Pacquiao was once considered Floyd’s biggest threat but Mayweather Sr. couldn’t help but take a few more digs.
“We aint going to talk about Pacquiao, because we already know what time of day it is,” stated Mayweather Sr. “We already know that the Pac Man can’t whoop Floyd. I know it, you know it, the world knows it.”
PLEASE CHECK BELOW for more exclusive coverage from the boxing world…
Mayweather Sr. rips Freddie Roach; says the whole world knows Pacquiao can’t beat Floyd
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Miguel Diaz says Pacquiao’s knockout loss to Marquez ‘means nothing’; favors him over Rios
Gabriel Rosado says boxing is ‘soft’ these days; calls for a rematch with Peter Quillin
Roger Mayweather doesn’t feel Amir Khan deserves a shot at Floyd
Peter Quillin reaches out; hopes he inspired people with his fight vs. Rosado [CR’s Commentary]
Mayweather Sr. says Bernard Hopkins is jealous of Floyd after claiming he’ll fight him at 160 pounds
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Nonito Donaire opens up on returning to Oxnard, Pacquiao vs. Rios, and Ruslan Provodnikov
Marcos Maidana stepping up the intensity in training for his clash with Adrien Broner
Brandon Rios puzzled by Mike Alvarado’s loss to Provodnikov; wonders if he didn’t train right
David Rodela shares insight into the real Manny Pacquiao and reveals why Rios may be in trouble
J’Leon Love (15-0, 8 KO’s) sparring Andrew Tabiti (1-0, 1 KO) at the Mayweather Boxing Club
Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com