Manny Pacquiao + Freddie Roach = Seven Belts or More

When the four-time trainer of the year Freddie Roach first met Manny Pacquiao, I don't think he foresaw the seven championship belts of Pacquiao! Freddie has just accepted Pacquiao like any other boxer without  the slightest idea that this new boxer would totally change his life and bring his career  to the highest pedestal in the  boxing world.

When Freddie trained Tyson, he must have thought that Tyson would bring him to the highest  fame where he is now! When he worked with Oscar de la Hoya, he wished that their partnership would last forever and keep the Golden Boy always on his side while conquering the world of boxing.

But when he began training Pacquiao, I don't think he imagined a great future with him. He saw the potentials of Pacquiao, but he didn't think that these potentials could go so far and so high that  after just few years they reached the seventh heaven like no other boxer has ever done it before.

Freddie Roach was a failure boxer and Pacquiao was a life survivor. Then  Manny Pacquiao makes him one of the most successful trainers ever! They have not done all  their work yet. They still want to write the last chapters of  their legacy. They are now on top of their game and any boxer and trainer have great difficulty in staying on top of them.

Freddie Roach is the battle-genius-brain of Manny Pacquiao and Pacquiao is the devastating fists of Freddie Roach. Manny Pacquiao has the finest weapons for boxing and Freddie taught him the best way to use them. I could have the finest and the best computer in the world, but if I don't  know how to use it, what is the use?

I work in Saint Peter in Chains Basilica here in Rome, Italy where is located the famous statue of Moses done by Michaelangelo, the greatest sculpture in the world. Around 10,000 tourists a day visit there to see the masterpiece of Michaelangelo and no one could see that statue without admiring that great work of perfection that only God could do better.

Sometimes when I  look at  that statue, I can't help but think of Freddie Roach how he sculpted Manny Pacquiao the way he is now. As Michaelangelo has produced one of the greatest statues from the hardest block of rock, so too, Freddie has produced one of the greatest  boxers from the tough personality of Pacquiao.

As Michaelangelo will always be remembered because of his statue of Moses, so too, Freddie Roach will always be remembered because of how well he trained Manny Pacquiao.

At first Pacquiao had really no style. He just went there and throw his right jab to distract his opponent and then throw his  killer punch with his left hand. He was more of a puncher than a tactical boxer.

But after his lose to Erik Morales Freddie Roach has realized that Pacquiao's powerful left punch is not enough to conquer all the belts. He had to make Pacquiao a complete boxer who has everything it takes to win.

After that lose Pacquiao was never the same and never tasted any lose again. He just went from better to best, but his best is always not enough for him, for he trains as if it is the first, the last and the only fight of his life.

The best thing about  Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach is that they never stop studying the sweet science of boxing. They beat first their opponent before going to the ring.

Freddie Roach, like a computer engineer, does all the programming outside the ring and Pacquiao just click the right button at the right time inside the ring. Then the ring announcer would just proclaim: "You have succesfully installed the program, now you are the world champion."

Some boxers and trainers when they reach a certain heights of success, they start to think that they know already everything and begin to believe that no one can beat them.

But every time Pacquiao has a fight he always says to the media that he has to train very hard for this fight. He never takes anyone for granted. He knows well that In boxing, one strong punch is more than enough to have upset.

If any boxer wants to beat Pacquiao, he has to beat first Freddie Roach. It is one of  the reasons why it is so hard for any opponent to beat Pacquiao.

How can you beat Freddie when you cannot make any game plan to beat his game plan since you don't know his game plan? He has always a specific game plan for every specific opponent. And Freddie Roach has always different game plans to beat whatever game plan the opponent may bring in the ring.

From now on no one could speak about Manny Pacquiao without mentioning the name of Freddie Roach. No one could talk about Freddie Roach without naming Manny Pacquiao.

By now Freddie is the soul of Pacquiao and Manny is the body of Freddie. They are the body and soul in boxing.

Before Manny Pacquiao, Freddie wished a lot to become famous in boxing, but now being famous with Manny, he wishes that he had never wished to become famous, because now he realizes that for every fame there is always pain.

Don't proclaim your greatness and others would cry out your greatness. Proclaim your greatness and others won't have the desire to see your greatness. Lower yourself and they will lift you up. Lift up yourself and they will pull you down.

Manny + Freddie = Victory
Popularity + Money = Humility
American trainer + Filipino boxer = Great career

The true greatness of Manny and Freddie lies in their humility. Even with all their success, fame and riches they always remember their humble past. Freddie, a failure boxer. Manny, a survivor from hunger. No matter how high they are now, they always want to look down where they really belong.

Every fame is just passing by and after this life we will be all at the same level: lower than the ground.