By Ronnie Nathanielsz

2003 "Trainer of the Year" Freddie Roach, currently training three Filipino boxers who will see action against Mexican opponents in the Top Rank card at the Staples Center on September 10 has nothing but praise for his wards.

Roach will work the corner of Manny Pacquiao who battles Hector Velazquez, No. 1 light flyweight contender Brian Viloria who goes after the title of another Mexican Eric Ortiz and WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista who takes on Carlos Flores Murillo in his US debut over eight rounds.

Roach said what he liked about the Filipinos was "their work ethic." He said they work "really hard" which fits into his own style because, as Roach stressed, "I don’t like lazy people. If you are lazy pick a different sport. Go play checkers or something." Roach noted that the sport of professional boxing is "very demanding" and the Filipino fighters stick with the hours adding "they work very hard and love what they do. It’s a good feeling because I too love what I do."

Roach said he believes the poor background of the Filipino boxers is what makes them excel. "It’s a way out of poverty and most fighters come from poor backgrounds. It’s a way out."Roach mentioned his own childhood in a depressed area of Boston and said
"atheltics is a great way to go. The hunger is there for all of them and that’s a huge part of it ."

He said the Filipino fighters "want to make something of themselves" even as he made it clear that "anyone can do it. They just have to make that decision and they got to make the sacrifice."

Roach has always maintained that Manny Pacquiao who has assumed the status of a folk hero in the Philippines is among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world today and although he was a little concerned about Pacquiao’s late arrival in Los Angeles
to train at Roach’s Wild Card Gym for his battle with Hector Velazquez, he predicted a late round KO win for the Filipino southpaw. Pacquiao came from a very poor background to punch his way to fame and fortune just like the all-time great, the late Gabriel "Flash" Elorde who was a poor farmer’s son from Bogo, Cebu.

Elorde ruled as world junior lightweight champion for nearly seven-and-a-half years.