Roach and Beristain to renew their rivalry

MANILA, Philippines - Although the attention of the world will be centered on Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez when they step inside the ring on Nov. 13, their head trainers, Freddie Roach (top) and Nacho Beristain, will also be big factor in the outcome of the fight.

There is mutual respect between the two legends of the sport although their rivalry makes it seem that they despise each other. Pacquiao-Marquez’s third fight will be the fourth time that Beristain will be in the corner opposite Pacquiao’s. He was Marquez’s trainer for their first two fights and he also stood in Oscar de la Hoya’s corner in his fight against Pacquiao.

He is referred to as El Rey Midas back in Mexico because all the fighters he has trained have turned into gold but when asked who is his favorite student, Beristain has a direct answer.

“Juan Manuel is the best fighter I’ve ever worked with and his success along with the success of his brother Rafael is an achievement I’m very proud of,” shared Beristain. His reputation is already set as he has already been inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame alongside Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone, and Julio Caesar Chavez. But if he helps Marquez get a win over Pacquiao, then his legend will grow even more.

Roach, on the other hand, will surely get a Hall-of-Fame induction one day. He has a whopping five Boxing Writer’s of Association America Trainer of the Year Award.

Legendary trainers such as Emmanuel Steward, Felix Trinidad Sr., George Benton and Eddie Futch (whom the award was later named after) only have two Trainer of the Year accolades under their names. He has been with Pacquiao since the fight against Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and he has turned his student from a one-armed puncher to a complete boxing-puncher.

“From the very first time I held the mitts for Manny, I knew he was going to be a special fighter,” Roach said.

The two trainers have as much input into the epic rivalry as their fighters. While Pacquiao and Marquez are the ones who step inside the ring to trade leather, it is Roach and Beristain who equip their fighters to be very good in what they do.

Pacquiao-Marquez 3 will be aired on Solar Sports. Broadcast starts at 11 a.m. It will be aired again on Nov. 14, 16 and 18 at 6 to 11 p.m. Solar Sports is on Ch. 70, SkyCable, Ch. 35, Destiny and Ch. 31, Cablelink.

There will also be special airings of HBO 24/7 on TALKtv. The complete four episodes will be aired on Nov. 13 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. TALKtv is available on Ch. 16 on SkyCable, Ch. 28 on Destiny, Ch. 21 on VHF.