Freddie Roach: record, next fight and profile →
It's a battle of undefeated junior welterweights this weekend in Fresno, California at the Save Mart Arena as Mike Reed (23-0, 12 KO's) goes into enemy territory to face hometown favorite Jose Ramirez (20-0, 15 KO's) in a bout that will be televised on ESPN this Saturday night.
This coming December 2, it will mark the end of an era in boxing as four-division world champion Miguel Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs) will enter the ring for the final time to defend his WBO junior middleweight title against Sadam "World Kid" Ali (25-1, 14 KOs). The action will take place at Cotto's second home, Madison Square Garden, and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Cotto will make his 10th showcase at MSG.
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is about to enter new territory. Currently still training some of the biggest names in boxing, the veteran coach will make his UFC debut next weekend - when he works the corner of MMA legend Georges St-Pierre, who returns from a four-year absence to face middleweight champion Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 217. Roach is very good friends with St-Pierre and would always help him when possible.
Well that escalated quickly! It didn't take long for undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas super lightweight champion JOSE RAMÍREZ.to respond to the missive sent his way on Thursday by his upcoming opponent, undefeated Top-10 contender MIKE "Yes Indeed" REED. Reed (23-0, 12 KOs), from Waldorf, MD, is all that stands between Ramírez (20-0, 15 KOs), from Avenal, Calif., and his first world title shot.
NEW YORK – Freddie Roach believes Miguel Cotto is ready to retire from boxing. Cotto’s trainer thinks the four-division champion from Puerto Rico will keep his word and walk away from the sport following his fight against Sadam Ali on December 2 at Madison Square Garden. Roach is just as certain Cotto will be offered a huge fight next year, either against Canelo Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin.
NEW YORK – As much as some fans and media might’ve wanted to see Mikey Garcia move up two more divisions to challenge Miguel Cotto, Freddie Roach is glad it didn’t happen. Roach is confident Cotto would’ve beaten Garcia and just as sure his fighter wouldn’t have received the appropriate credit for giving Garcia his first defeat because Garcia is “too small.” Garcia (37-0, 30 KOs) revealed last week that he turned down a shot at Cotto on December 2 at Madison Square Garden because he didn’t want to sign a long-term contract with Golden Boy Promotions, Cotto’s promoter, to get that high-profile fight.
Freddie Roach, trainer for eight division champion Manny Pacquiao, is still hoping that his boxer is able to secure a rematch with WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (17-0-1, 11 KOs). Horn shocked the boxing world when he clinched a twelve round unanimous decision over Pacquiao back in July to capture the WBO title before 51,000 fans in Brisbane, Australia.
Mikey Garcia (37-0, 30 KOs) has made some noise on social media regarding his interest in facing WBO junior middleweight titlist, Miguel Cotto. Cotto had been hoping to face the winner of last week's middleweight bout between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez. Because that bout went to a draw, they are more interested in a rematch - possibly in May of 2018 - which rules both out for Cotto this year.
Freddie Roach, the current trainer of WBO 154-pound champion, Miguel Cotto, was in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this past weekend where middleweight king, Gennady Golovkin, and Saul Alvarez fought to a controversial draw. Golovkin retained his IBF, WBA, IBO, WBC 160-pound titles when the official judges issued scores of 114-114, 115-113 (Golovkin) and 118-110 (Canelo).
So who does out-spoken Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach, tab in this week's middleweight showdown between unified champion, Gennady Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs), and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs), who meet this Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas?