Freddie Roach is 2008 Yahoo Sports Trainer of the Year

Freddie Roach, the boxing trainer of Manny Pacquiao has been declared Sports Trainer of the Year by Yahoo Sports. This was announced last December 24th by Kevin lole of Yahoo Sports.

In his column, Kevin said, 'In seven years, Roach methodically molded Pacquiao into the world's greatest fighter. And the world's greatest fighter had his year in 2008, thanks in large part to Roach work in the gym and in the corner. For that, Roach is the easy choice as the Yahoo Sports Trainer of the Year for 2008'.

'Whereas Pacquiao was once strictly one-handed fighter who was not difficult to hit, he is now dangerous with the right as well as the left and he is no longer eating the big blows he took earlier in his career.' Kevin added.

It is true indeed that Roach has been instrumental to the success of Manny Pacquiao as a professional boxer. Being a boxer himself during his prime years, Roach has trained boxers to become world champions. Among other big names in boxing, Roach trained many world-class boxers like Oscar de la Hoya, Toney, Collins, Hopkins, Tyson, Pacquiao, among others.

Freddie Roach was born on March 5, 1960 in Dedham MA. As a professional boxer during his prime years, he was trained by legendary Eddie Futch. Before turning professional, he had 150 amateur bouts under the tutelage of his father Paul Roach. He fought 53 times professionally, winning 39 and losing 13. Roach spent most of his boxing career as a lightweight. He fought and lost to popular lightweights Bobby Chacon and Hector Camacho.

Roach is the owner of Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles, California and is currently one of the most popular boxing trainers today. He was voted trainer of the year by Boxing Writers Association of America in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

Freddie Roach is very popular in the Philippines, being the trainer of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao for the last seven years.

He is the boxing trainer of popular Filipino boxers including former boxing champions Bobby Pacquiao, Diosdado Gabi, Rey Bautista, Gerry Penalosa and Brian Viloria, among others.