Arlovksi 360 and Freddie Roach talking Shit

We are just three weeks shy of Affliction: Day of Reckoning and there is some news regarding heavyweight fighter Andre Arlovksi. First there is the above posted video, where Arlovski hires a James Earl Jones wannabe to narrate his life story in full on HBO 360 fashion. Boxing trainer Freddie Roach also makes an appearance in the video, watching his new pupil learn the 'sweet science'. The second piece of news is that Roach had this to say about Arlovski's opponent and consensus #1 heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko,

"He’s flat-footed, has no technique, but he can punch. That always helps. He’s accurate. He’ll follow you right to the floor, so he’s aggressive. But that aggressiveness can be used to our advantage, I think."

Freddie Roach is a great boxing coach, in fact he is a superb coach and I value his opinion on all things related to boxing, but someone needs to break it to him that this is MMA. This quote illustrates what boxing insiders really feel about MMA, that it is a cheap spectacle and if they got their hands on an MMA fighter to train, he would easily win every fight. The problem with this line of thinking is that it isn't even remotely true. Stand-up changes drastically when the gloves shrink and takedowns and kicks are integrated. Besides if Arlovski thinks improved boxing skills are going to save him from an armbar or from being placed in side control then he is seriously mistaken.

Regardless of the validity of Roach's comments he has created a new story line for the Arlovski-Emelianenko fight. Will a boxing trainer's touch alter the course of the fight significantly? I for one don't see this being affirmed. In fact, I find this more akin to a field hockey coach switching to hockey. Yes, there are some similarities but the game is wholly different and if you are not ready for those aspects you are in for a rude awakening.