by David P. Greisman
For the sixth time in his career, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has received the Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Roach also won the award in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
“It's good to be back,” Roach said in a statement sent to media members. “We had one year off when it seemed like nothing was going our way. But last year it all came together again. I'd like to thank the BWAA for this honor, and even though I may be the recipient, I represent the collective efforts of the most talented and hardest-working fighters and assistant trainers in the world, and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.”
The other names on the BWAA ballot were Angel Garcia, Javon “Sugar” Hill, Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Abel Sanchez.
Among the fighters who Roach works with are Manny Pacquiao, who returned from his losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 by outpointing Brandon Rios this past November; Ruslan Provodnikov, who lost a close war with welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley and then captured a junior welterweight title by stopping Mike Alvarado; Miguel Cotto, who returned from his losses to Floyd Mayweather and Austin Trout in 2012 by demolishing Delvin Rodriguez this past October; and Zou Shiming, the three-time Olympic medalist who turned pro last year; and Raymundo Beltran.
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