Roach's journey in boxing started as a fighter. He competed professionally from 1978 to 1986, racking up 40 victories. After hanging up his gloves, he began his training career as an unpaid gym assistant. Under the guidance of Eddie Futch, Roach honed his skills for half a decade before establishing the Wild Card Boxing Gym in Los Angeles.
Over the years, Roach has worked with some of boxing's biggest names. He's trained no less than 40 world champions, but his partnership with Manny Pacquiao stands out. The duo started working together in 2002, and Roach played a key role in Pacquiao's ascent to becoming an eight-division world champion.
"Well, Pacquiao I learned a lot from, he's made me a better trainer because he can do things that not everybody can do. But the most talented, gifted athlete I've ever trained is James Toney. He had something you couldn't teach. He was just a natural."
James "Lights Out" Toney's career spanned from 1988 to 2017. He won world titles in three weight divisions - middleweight, super-middleweight, and cruiserweight. Toney faced off against some of the sport's biggest names, including Roy Jones Jr, Evander Holyfield, and Mike McCallum.
Roach's high praise for Toney stems from the fighter's natural talent. The trainer believes Toney possessed qualities that couldn't be taught, setting him apart from other boxers he's worked with.
While Pacquiao's impact on Roach's career is undeniable, it's Toney's raw talent that left the biggest impression. This revelation offers a unique insight into the mind of one of boxing's most respected trainers.
You can watch Roach's full interview and hear more about his experiences with both Toney and Pacquiao on the Fight Hub TV YouTube channel.