MANILA, Philippines - HBO will launch a new six-part documentary on Hall of Famer Freddie Roach on Oct. 29 at 11 p.m. (10 p.m. on HBO HD) with new episodes airing weekly at the same time, according to Emmy nominee and executive producer Peter Berg.
The unscripted show will focus on Roach, who owns and operates the famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood where he has produced a host of world champions, notably Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, the only fighter in history to win eight titles in different weight divisions.
The HBO special, an HBO Original Programming presentation and a co-production of Film 44 and Atticus Entertainment, will also give a personal look at the world famous boxing trainer, his life and career against the backdrop of Parkinson’s disease, an ailment very likely linked to his own boxing past.
A native of Dedham, Massachusetts, Roach has an extensive amateur boxing background. He fought as a pro under the Hall of Famer Eddie Futch, ending his pro career in 1987 with a record 41 wins and 13 losses. Upon his retirement, he became Futch’s apprentice.
In 1992, Mickey Rourke financed Roach’s first gym, the Outlaw Boxing Club. He has gone to train more than 20 world champions, including Mike Tyson, Oscar dela Hoya and Amir Khan. Roach has been honored five times as Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America and has been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame. On Dec. 6, 2011, he was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.