The world’s best trainer Freddie Roach holds up his special five-tier trophy that was awarded to him after he led four-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao,General Santos, Philippines to a devastating knockout victory over Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Manchester, England Saturday night in Las Vegas. The special five foot trophy, an award for the trainer of the winning fighter, had the inscription “No. 1 Pound for Pound Best Trainer in the World” and was a contest between Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr., the trainer of Hatton.

The best? Manny Pacquiao has won titles in three different weight divisions Photo: PA

Pacquiao landed 73 of 127 punches in just under six minutes against Ricky Hatton, including 34 of 53 power punches in the second round. Hatton connected on only 18 of 78.
Pacquiao's victory has historical undertones, with the 140lb world title belt having been on the line from The Ring Magazine. He has now won undisputed titles in three divisions.

Many fighters have won world 'titles' in three divisions, but this victory puts Pacquiao in great company in boxing history alongside Henry Armstrong (featherweight, lightweight, welterweight) and Bob Fitzsimmons (middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight) who won undisputed titles in three different weights at a time when there was still only one world sanctioning body. (Continued)

Photo by STEVE MARCUS
Manny Pacquiao poses after his second round knockout of Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2, 2009. With Pacquio are boxing promoter Bob Arum, second from right, and head trainer Freddie Roach, far right.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired from boxing 16 months ago saying he had nothing left to prove. Well he does now.

If Mayweather planned to steal the spotlight away from Manny Pacquiao on Saturday by announcing his return to ring, that ruse was ruined before the second round even ended in Pacquiao’s megafight with Ricky Hatton.

With one perfect punch, the “Pac-Man” flattened Hatton, cemented his already rock-solid legacy, and made the capacity crowd inside the Grand Garden Arena and boxing fans get to thinking of a pound-for-pound champion matchup. (Continued)

Freddie Roach said hours of careful work in the gym set up Manny Pacquiao's awesome destruction of Ricky Hatton on Saturday night.

Hatton was bidding to take Pacman's crown as reigning P4P king in their huge showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

But he was cut down by a blistering fusillade of right and left hooks from the Filipino icon en route to a second-round defeat.

Right hooks did the damage in the first as the Hitman went to the canvas twice. (Continued)

A sellout crowd of 16,262 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and an HBO Pay-Per-View audience saw Pacquiao's latest ring masterpiece, even though it was over almost from the start.

From their first exchange of punches, Pacquiao hit Hatton with right hands at will to score two knockdowns in the first round. It was a wonder that Hatton got up and survived that round. Barely.

But after the second round started with more of the same lopsided punishment, Pacquiao struck with lightning speed to finish off his prey. His crushing left hook found its mark on Hatton's jaw, sending the British fighter to the canvas sprawled on his back in a state of unconsciousness. The official stoppage came at 2:59 of the second round as referee Kenny Bayless didn't even bother to finish the 10-count.

In the end, Pacquiao was too quick, too skilled and totally too much for Hatton.

"I didn't think it would be so easy, but I worked hard since the beginning of March in training camp,'' said Pacquiao. "He was open for the right hook. I knew he'd be looking for the left. This was nothing personal. I was just doing my job. This was as big for me as the (Oscar) De La Hoya victory." (Continued)

Manny Pacquiao absolutely brutalized Ricky Hatton in less than six minutes moments ago at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to capture the Ring Magazine light welterweight title with a spectacular one-punch KO. Pacquiao met Hatton in the center of the ring at the opening bell and his superior hand speed and power was immediately evident. Pacquiao dropped Hatton with a big right hook in Round 1, and then sent him down again hard at the bell. Hatton came out for Round 2 and Pacquiao slowed things down looking to set up something big. Big it was. At the end of Round 2 Pacquiao landed a mammoth left hand that ended the fight with that very punch. The shot dropped Hatton like a stone where he stayed motionless for several moments. The fight was immediately waived off, giving Manny Pacquiao the world light welterweight championship, and a record tying sixth title in six weight divisions. “He was expecting my left, but we practiced the right hook,” an elated Pacquiao said post fight. Hatton was unavailable for comment and was immediately taken to the hospital. (Continued)

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (March 26, 2009) – Boxing’s No. 1 pound for fighter MANNY PACQUIAO and No. 1 pound for pound trainer WORLD-FAMOUS FREDDIE ROACH, were named 2008 Fighter of the Year and Trainer of the Year, respectively, by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Pacquiao and Roach, boxing’s dynamic duo, were honored for a year that can only be described as Henry Armstronesque.

The Pinoy powerhouse captured the WBC super featherweight title by defeating Juan Manual Marquez and the WBC lightweight title by knocking out defending champion David Diaz. Pacquiao’s stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya, fought at the welterweight limit was the historic exclamation to a great year. Armstrong, the great Hall of Famer, is best known for being the only man in boxing history to hold three world titles simultaneously, a feat he accomplished 71 years ago when he won world titles at featherweight, welterweight and lightweight (in that order) during a nine-month span between November 1937 and August 1938. (Continued)

The man known as the world’s pound-for-pound champ proved it again, at least in the eyes of boxing pundits as Manny Pacquiao was voted fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America this week.

The Filipino superstar, who beat out recently retired Welshman Joe Calzaghe for the honor, had a year for the history books. (Continued)

Trainer Freddie Roach (R) with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao hold the plaque and trophy awarded to Roach by the WBC on Saturday, Oct. 11. Photo by Miguel Salazar.

Los Angeles, CA:- Freddie Roach, the famed trainer made more famous by the success of Filipino spitfire, Manny Pacquiao, was honored last Saturday, October 11, 2008 by the WBC.

Roach was bestowed a “Lifetime Achievement Award” during a special luncheon and fund raising at the WBC Legends of Boxing Event at the New Museum at San Bernardino, California.

WBC also gave the award to 92 year old cutman, Chuck Bodak as well as another cutman Tony Rivera and announcer Carlos Avilas.

John Montes Jr., a former WBC Super Lightweight was inducted to the Hall of Fame.

The day is bitter sweet for Montes as the fund raiser is for his wife Joann who is undergoing treatment for 4th stage breast cancer and the proceeds from the event will help the Montes family with her medical treatment.

Since the award ceremonies were held at high noon, Roach was unable to attend personally. Roach was at his Wildcard Gym training Manny Pacquiao for his fight with Oscar de la Hoya on December 6, 2008 at the MGM Grand at Las Vegas.

However, he sent a friend, Miguel Salazar to receive the award on his behalf.

The event was video taped and will be shown at the forthcoming WBC 46th World Convention next month at Chengdu, China. (Continued)