By Edward "Eddy" Chaykovsky
Trainer Freddie Roach spoke with the Grand Rapids Press about one of his new boxers, undefeated middleweight contender Peter Quillin (24-0, 18KOs), who steps in the ring on the Amir Khan-Zab Judah undercard on July 23 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The current king of the middleweights is Sergio Martinez. Roach questions the impressive record of Martinez, and welcomes an immediate fight with Quillin. Martinez returns to action on October 1 against Darren Barker.
"Everybody tells me how good Sergio Martinez is," Roach said. "I’d welcome that fight for Pete. Pete’s learning curve, he’s one of those guys like Pacquiao, you show him a move once, they absorb it real quick. He’s not a slow learner, he’s a fast learner. I’ve had slow learners before, not that there’s anything wrong with it. But, like, when I was teaching Oscar (De La Hoya), it took time. He didn’t pick it up right away. So everyone is a little different."
"How good is the guy [Martinez], really? Antonio Margarito knocked Martinez out, and that was at 147 pounds. (Kermit) Cintron beat him, also (actually, it was a controversial draw). He’s a great athlete, and Pete is also, but Pete knows boxing, and Martinez’s boxing skills are limited."
