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Celtics have legendary trainer Freddie Roach in their corner
By Ron Borges
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Freddie Roach is a friend of Ron Artest’s, but not this week.
The Dedham-born boxing trainer of the year, who will receive that designation for the fourth time tomorrow in New York at the annual Boxing Writers Association of America dinner, has gotten to know the Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive specialist through Artest’s love of boxing in general and Manny Pacquiao in particular.
Since coming to the Lakers this season, Artest has become a frequent visitor to Roach’s Wild Card Gym on Vine Street, where Roach has, for years, prepared Pacquiao for his biggest fights as well as training the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, James Toney, super lightweight champion Amir Khan, middleweight title holder Felix Sturm and UFC champions Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre.
One guy he hasn’t yet trained is the sometimes brawling Artest, but the latter has mentioned it on several occasions. Roach says he’s more than willing to help, but for Artest it might be wise to wait a few weeks. Roach is a dyed-in-the-wool Celtics [team stats] fan who just might let an extra jab or hook get through Artest’s defenses if it would help the Green in their quest for an 18th NBA title.
“He comes to the gym to watch Manny train all the time,” Roach said of Artest. “He’s a friend of mine but not for the next two weeks. He keeps asking me for boxing lessons. I told him after watching him in the stands in Detroit (when Artest was involved in a legendary brawl while with the Indiana Pacers) he could use a few lessons.”
Although trapped in the midst of a city of Lakers fans, Roach remains an avid supporter of the Celts, and he is not alone. Along with him stands, of all people, Pacquiao.
It is logical to assume the Filipino legend, who is widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, came to his love of the Celtics through Roach, who is both Irish and a New Englander who grew up cheering for first Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White and later Larry Bird.
But Roach insists Pacquiao’s affair of the heart with the Celtics has nothing to do with him.
“Manny probably doesn’t even know where I’m from,” Roach said yesterday. “I never mentioned the Celtics to him. One day he shows up wearing Kevin Garnett’s jersey. He’s the biggest Celtics fan. He invited the whole team to his fight with David Diaz (several weeks after they won their 17th NBA title two years ago). KG and five or six of them showed up in Las Vegas. The man loves the Celtics.”
So does Roach, who was asked what kind of match he expects to see between his old team and the Lakers. He doesn’t expect a pillow fight.
“It’s going to be a bell-to-bell brawl,” Roach said. “I got money out all over town on the Celtics. I see them winning in six games.”
Fortunately for Ron Artest, Manny Pacquiao is not in training at the moment, having last month won a seat in the Philippine Senate. But if he were, Artest might find the atmosphere a little chilly at the Wild Card these days.
“He’s welcome in the gym any time after the series is over,” Roach said jokingly. “He’s a great guy, except when he’s playing the Celtics.”
By Ron Borges
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Freddie Roach is a friend of Ron Artest’s, but not this week.
The Dedham-born boxing trainer of the year, who will receive that designation for the fourth time tomorrow in New York at the annual Boxing Writers Association of America dinner, has gotten to know the Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive specialist through Artest’s love of boxing in general and Manny Pacquiao in particular.
Since coming to the Lakers this season, Artest has become a frequent visitor to Roach’s Wild Card Gym on Vine Street, where Roach has, for years, prepared Pacquiao for his biggest fights as well as training the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, James Toney, super lightweight champion Amir Khan, middleweight title holder Felix Sturm and UFC champions Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre.
One guy he hasn’t yet trained is the sometimes brawling Artest, but the latter has mentioned it on several occasions. Roach says he’s more than willing to help, but for Artest it might be wise to wait a few weeks. Roach is a dyed-in-the-wool Celtics [team stats] fan who just might let an extra jab or hook get through Artest’s defenses if it would help the Green in their quest for an 18th NBA title.
“He comes to the gym to watch Manny train all the time,” Roach said of Artest. “He’s a friend of mine but not for the next two weeks. He keeps asking me for boxing lessons. I told him after watching him in the stands in Detroit (when Artest was involved in a legendary brawl while with the Indiana Pacers) he could use a few lessons.”
Although trapped in the midst of a city of Lakers fans, Roach remains an avid supporter of the Celts, and he is not alone. Along with him stands, of all people, Pacquiao.
It is logical to assume the Filipino legend, who is widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, came to his love of the Celtics through Roach, who is both Irish and a New Englander who grew up cheering for first Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White and later Larry Bird.
But Roach insists Pacquiao’s affair of the heart with the Celtics has nothing to do with him.
“Manny probably doesn’t even know where I’m from,” Roach said yesterday. “I never mentioned the Celtics to him. One day he shows up wearing Kevin Garnett’s jersey. He’s the biggest Celtics fan. He invited the whole team to his fight with David Diaz (several weeks after they won their 17th NBA title two years ago). KG and five or six of them showed up in Las Vegas. The man loves the Celtics.”
So does Roach, who was asked what kind of match he expects to see between his old team and the Lakers. He doesn’t expect a pillow fight.
“It’s going to be a bell-to-bell brawl,” Roach said. “I got money out all over town on the Celtics. I see them winning in six games.”
Fortunately for Ron Artest, Manny Pacquiao is not in training at the moment, having last month won a seat in the Philippine Senate. But if he were, Artest might find the atmosphere a little chilly at the Wild Card these days.
“He’s welcome in the gym any time after the series is over,” Roach said jokingly. “He’s a great guy, except when he’s playing the Celtics.”
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