Felger & Mazz: Freddie Roach Discusses The Long Term Viability Of Boxing
BOSTON (CBS) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer and Boston native Freddie Roach joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Mike Felger and Tony Massarotti live at the MGM Grand in Vegas to preview Mayweather-Pacquiao.
One thing that concerns Felger & Mazz is the long term viability of boxing, which is perceived around the nation as a sport that is dying. Roach views this as a huge fight in that regard, and thinks it has more to do with the cattiness of the promoters than the quality of the athletes.
"This is what happens when the best fight the best in our sport. I feel like this should be a lesson to all those promoters that won't talk to each other because of personal issues. Like, come on, it's a fight. Negotiate the fight. When Don King and Bob Arum hated each other they still negotiated great fights. These guys need to learn from this fight, and that when the best fight the best boxing is by far the biggest sport out there."
Roach admits he's worried about the UFC "a little bit" but is more concerned with the lack of trainers out there who can prepare this next generation of boxers.
"I think the level of competition right now is just not there. I don't think we have teachers out there that teach the entire ballpark of what boxing is, and I do," said Roach. "I don't have a lot of competition. There's only a couple guys out there [like me] that do that."
Roach also talked about head injuries and what to expect from the big fight Saturday night.