Roach needs to teach improved defense

[Pessimistic]

I'm impressed that Manny is using the high guard in his fights. But I note a weakness. Uppercuts on the inside go right between his gloves and catch him clean. In his last three fights he was getting caught flush by uppercuts 1.Cotto in round 3 2.Clottey and Clottey best moment in that fight is when he got inside of Manny and hit him with three uppercuts before he threw back. 3.Margarito in rounds six and eight. Don't get me wrong I'm no hater though because he won all those fights. But Manny isn't the only one, Amir Khan was getting caught flush with uppercuts by Maidina in the tenth round particulary. Even Freddie's newest protege the knockout artist Lateef Kayode was getting hit with some uppercuts even though he got the knockout. If Roach doesn't teach his pupils this they will get embarassed someday by somebody they shouldn't have been embarassed by. Any defensive masterminds know how that can be accomplished?

[Russian Crushin]

He is just not a defensive trainer

He is about offense and breaking fighters down. Improving defense sacrifices offense and vise versa. The way his fighters are fighting, i dont see anything that needs changing really

With Kayode, he needs to be in with tougher comp first

[Fedora]

I think it was Dwyer who explained it that Roach teaches his fighters movement and footwork for defense and its better to protect your blind spot and leave the uppercut weakness as long as the chin is tucked in. Go watch his Khan-Maidana post-fight, I think it was.

[Tomislav III]

He is just not a defensive trainer

He is about offense and breaking fighters down. Improving defense sacrifices offense and vise versa. The way his fighters are fighting, i dont see anything that needs changing really

With Kayode, he needs to be in with tougher comp first

Good luck trying to explain to people that it isn't possible to be a perfect fighter both offensively and defensively.


At best, you're going to be amazing in one and decent in the other. Pacquiao is an offensive arsenal, and a fast moving mobile defender with certain weaknesses that, though exploitable, aren't going to win you the fight if that's all you can do.



In the long run it depends on what your preference is. My preference is offense and not just in boxing. Some people prefer defense. It's just a mindset really.

[treason1]

v though i think mannys defense is kind of underated !!! i do agree freddy has to do a better job with defense atleast with amir con who doesnt have the cast iron chin like manny !!!!

[leone24]

v though i think mannys defense is kind of underated !!! i do agree freddy has to do a better job with defense atleast with amir con who doesnt have the cast iron chin like manny !!!!

yehhh, as long as pacroid is on them stuff, he doesnt need to do a better job with his defence...... and that head just keeps growing.

[FloydTBE]

pac n khan dont know how to defend against uppercuts

[ShoulderRoll]

Maybe Roach can bring in the Mayweathers to teach his guys some head movement.

[Russian Crushin]

Maybe Roach can bring in the Mayweathers to teach his guys some head movement.

Pac as a smaller fighter had good head movement

It seems like he has given it up for some reason

Cant blame him though because even without it, he doesnt get hurt bad and is still a beast

[RubenSonny]

I think it was Dwyer who explained it that Roach teaches his fighters movement and footwork for defense and its better to protect your blind spot and leave the uppercut weakness as long as the chin is tucked in. Go watch his Khan-Maidana post-fight, I think it was.

He teaches awesome offensive footwork but not defensive footwork all of his fighters just simply seem to move out the way, its not very fluid. The real concerning thing is he doesn't teach any inside fighting and absolutely no defense for it, pretty weird considering he's an Eddie Futch guy.