Roach says Manny changed his life

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach said he would work with Manny Pacquiao for free if necessary because he owes his career to the Filipino fighter as the Hall of Fame boxing coach regaled doctors with stories of his life during an inspiring visit to the Department of Neurosciences at the Makati Medical Center the other day.

“Manny changed my life,” said Roach who arrived in Manila three weeks ago to train Pacquiao for his Nov. 5 fight against Jessie Vargas and is scheduled to return to Los Angeles tonight. “When he walked into my gym in L. A. back in 2001 and we did one round of mitts, I knew he was special. Nobody else will ever win eight world titles in different divisions. You’ve got to start in the lighter weights to do it because the weight difference is smaller. Manny started at flyweight (112) and won all the way to 154 (superwelterweight). We’ve now worked together since his first fight in the US in 2001 when he knocked out (Lehlo) Ledwaba for the IBF superbantamweight title.”

Roach was invited to the hospital by Department of Neurosciences chair Dr. Regina Macalintal-Canlas to inspire and motivate doctors who treat patients with abnormal movements caused by Parkinson’s disease, tremors and dystonia. Roach has been afflicted with Parkinson’s the last 30 years.

Roach said two years ago, a Harvard neurosurgeon prescribed a pharmaceutical cocktail that has improved his condition dramatically. “I don’t have tremors anymore except when I get angry or emotional,” he chuckled. “I think staying active in the gym helps. I still do mitts with my fighters. Manny, for instance, is hitting the mitts harder than he ever did. It’s like he’s trying to tear my shoulder off.”

Dr. Canlas briefed Roach on the developments in her department, particularly in the drive to upgrade the facilities of the Movement Disorders Clinic. She said boxers with brain issues are welcome in the clinic and promised to facilitate assistance for the needy through the Makati Medical Center’s health services program. Medical director Dr. Benjie Alimurung, Dr. Manny Canlas, Dr. Martesio Perez, Dr. Cid Diesta and Dr. Jean Oropilla also met with Roach.

In a light moment, Roach shared the medication he takes and even showed the doctors an alarm pillbox in his pocket, reminding him when to take his medicine daily. Roach said his mother Barbara, now 81, is a two-time cancer survivor. “She still drives from L. A. to Las Vegas with her three dogs,” he said. “She helps out in my gym, too.” Roach’s mother was a former boxing judge who has battled breast and colon cancer.

Roach said he learned boxing from his father Paul at the age of six. “We were five boys and we all boxed in the amateurs but only three of us turned pro,” he said. “My father once sparred with (former world featherweight champion) Willie Pep. I remember Willie saying he lost all his boxing money because of slow horses and fast girls.” Roach’s father, a tree surgeon, died of a heart attack in 1987.

Roach said Pacquiao’s fight against Vargas will be a test of Top Rank chairman Bob Arum’s genius as a promoter. “HBO and Showtime aren’t doing it,” said Roach. “Bob is doing it on his own. He told me he’s buying spots on ESPN and Fox Sports to advertise the fight. Wynn is the host hotel but the fight will be at the Thomas and Mack Center at the UNLV (University of Nevada at Las Vegas) campus. Manny’s last fight against (Tim) Bradley didn’t do well in the box office so everybody’s taking a pay cut for the Vargas fight.”

Roach said he knows Wynn owner Steve Wynn personally and once had dinner with him. “I told Steve I worked for him as a busboy at the Hilton Nugget many, many years back,” he said. “So Steve told me, hey, you’ve come a long way and I told him, so have you. Steve suffers from a degenerative eye disease. At the press conference for Manny’s coming fight, Steve was at the podium and couldn’t tell whether Bob was to his left or right. He’s a great guy and I hope they find a cure for his illness.”

Roach said he also knows hotel magnate Sheldon Adelson. “Did you know Adelson was once a Boston cab driver?” said Roach. “His net worth is about $36 Billion and Steve is next in the list of richest hotel magnates but he’s a distant second with $3 Billion.”