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Too bad there's not a seniors boxing tour, because it would be entertaining to see a ring showdown between the trainers involved in the May 2 super-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, and Floyd Mayweather Sr., Hatton's chief cornerman, got into another verbal confrontation during a conference call with reporters today.
It doesn't take much to get these two started, and someone lobbed the softball that got things rolling by asking the men who was the better fighter during their boxing careers.
"I most definitely was the better fighter than Freddie Roach," said Mayweather (29-6-1, 19 KOs as a pro). "I got a [fight] poster with Freddie on my undercard."
Roach (39-13, 15 KOs) spoke directly to Mayweather: "You got shot and it ruined your career. I fought on TV more."
Said Mayweather: "C'mon Freddie, you were a bum." He later added, "Freddie the Joke Coach Roach, you got hit more times than any fighter I know."
Roach, quick with a response, said, "Yeah, but I'm not fighting. Manny Pacquiao is."
Roach cut to the chase, rubbing in the fact he'll be presented with his third "Trainer of the Year" award at the boxing writers dinner in June in New York.
"I want you to present me the ... award this year. This is as close as you'll get to it," Roach said. "You're never going to win it. Ever."
When asked why he thinks his expertise will help Hatton beat Pacquiao, Mayweather said, "It's obvious. I'm the best in the business. We're going to find out what time it is."
He then turned his attention to Roach, who sent Mayweather a gag gift of diet vitamins in Hatton's Las Vegas training camp last week.
"You tried to be my friend," Mayweather said.
Said Roach: "I don't want to be your friend."
Mayweather: "You really won't want to be my friend after May 2."
The pair have also debated previously about who's suffered the most cerebral damage from boxing. And when Mayweather slightly stuttered while talking about a possible comeback by his unbeaten son, Floyd Jr., Roach said, "Spit it out."
Finally, Hatton promoter Richard Schaefer interrupted to tell the trainers to "save the fireworks" for fight week.
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