Freddie Roach really likes training MMA fighters
by Zak Woods on Apr 30, 2009 3:45 PM EDT
in Apples and Oranges
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Freddie Roach became the boxing trainer when Manny Pacquiao defeated Oscar De La Hoya last year. But boxing wasn't enough for the three time Trainer of the Year as a plethora of MMA fighters are now training with Roach.
English fighter Dan Hardy is the latest MMA fighter to go to Roach's gym in search of improving his boxing skills. Hardy may just be preparing for his fight against Marcus Davis, a former boxer himself, but it is notable how many prominent MMA fighters are looking to Roach to improve their striking.
Andrei Arlovski, Anderson Silva, B.J. Penn, Tito Ortiz and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou have all looked to Freddie Roach to become better strikers. Any trainer would kill to have a roster like that but it should be pointed out that all of these fighters, with the exception of Silva, lost their last bout. Perhaps further evidence that pure boxing doesn't translate into MMA?
Still it is interesting to see this new trend with top MMA fighters training with top boxers.
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I think boxing training has a lot to offer mixed martial artists. Probably no more or less than wrestling, muay thai, or jiu jitsu (among others). What drives me nuts is the guys who come in these days thinking “I’m going to use my jab, my handspeed, my footwork, and my head movement, and either I’ll get a KO or win by decisions. YEAH!” Sorry, son, it only works if your opponent is stupid enough to stand in front of you and fight with only fists. I actually think that Rampage, as an example, was hurt by concentrating so much on pure boxing prior to his move to Wolfslair because he stopped working his wrestling, and didn’t look anywhere near as confident with going into the clinch, dirty boxing, going for takedowns and slams, etc.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
boxing has helped my muay thai, quite a bit IMO, but too much time spent not working mma spells disaster….tho’ arlovski looked great until the flying knee :( sigh
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
http://theworldsoldestsport.blogspot.com/
by theworldsoldestsport on May 1, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions
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