By Lem Satterfield
LAS VEGAS -- Five-time Trainer of The Year Freddie Roach, who has guided Manny Pacquiao to a recored eight titles in as many divisions, will be a part of the selection and training process that will lead to the composition the U.S. amateur team for the 2012 Olympics in London, it was announced on Saturday during a press conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Roach is doing so on a completely voluntary basis, having turned down an offer of $75,000, instead, donating it back into the United States Olympic Committee, according to his agent, Nick Khan.
"It's a little embarrassing for America right now," said Roach. "We've got to change that. We've got to bring some gold medals back into this country."
Roach is in Las Vegas for the WBO welterweight title defense to be made by Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) against Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand on Saturday night.
Roach will open his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., for Olympic prospects to work out in, and may eventually be hired to coach the boxers.
"Freddie will work hand in hand with Joe Zanders, the national coach, to assist in an effort to restore the program to what it was in the past," said Khan.
Roach was initially asked to coach the Filipino amateur boxers, whose country never has won an Olympic gold medal, said Khan.
"With Pacquiao's super popularity, and with Freddie Roach being his trainer, they thought that they would have a shot," said Khan. "But I talked to Freddie about it, and he said, 'If I help with anybody, I would want it to be the United States."