by Rick Reeno
Las Vegas - When Miguel Cotto (40-4, 32KOs) made a decision to pick up the phone and dial up Freddie Roach in 2013 - the veteran trainer called it "the best phone call that I received in my life."
Roach admits he was very surprised to hear from Cotto.
In 2009, Roach trained his star fighter, Manny Pacquiao, for a showdown with Cotto at a catch-weight of 145-pounds.
During the official weigh-in, Roach and Cotto became involved in an argument and the two of them were face to face in a very tense standoff. Roach felt the situation was so tense that it was very close to becoming a physical confrontation.
"When he first came to California, me and him hit it off pretty well. We're going from almost getting into a fight at the weigh-in, at the Pacquiao fight. He said 'what are you going to do?' And I said 'I'm right here.' We're like face to face almost ready to go and then someone broke it up," Roach explained with a smile.
When Roach received the initial call from Cotto, the trainer immediately thought someone was impersonating the Puerto Rican star to play a joke.
"He called and said 'Freddie, I think I got about three fights left in me. Can you help me?' And I was like 'f***, is this really him?' I really thought I was being prank called. And I said 'of course I can.' And the easiest thing to do was to take all the things that I had Pacquiao do to beat him - and turn them around....make him box more, make him lighter on his feet," Roach said.
After three successful fights together, their relationship will be put to the test on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay, when Cotto takes on Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (45-1-1, 32KOs) in the main event of a four fight HBO Pay-Per-View card.
