Roach says King James reigns as most talented
Posted November 12th 2008 at 02:53pm
By Michael Rosenthal
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Trainer Freddie Roach is working with the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world, at least in the opinion of most boxing experts.
So can we assume that Manny Pacquiao is also the most talented fighter he’s trained? No.
The most naturally gifted fighter ever to hit Roach’s mitts, he said, was James Toney, the former world champion in three weight classes who never had a worth ethic to match his God-given ability.
“Toney is the most natural fighter I’ve ever seen,” said Roach, who has been a trainer for almost 20 years. “When he says, ‘All you mother------- have to train but I was born to fight,’ he meant it. The way he moved, the vision he had, to see everything coming at him, he was just so gifted.
“He’s getting older now and getting hit more than ever. At one time, though, he’d sit on the ropes and make you miss 100 punches and come back with counter shots. It was something to watch.”
Toney just didn’t want to work and battled weight problems as a result, which saddens Roach.
“He had no discipline,” Roach said. “If he had discipline, he could’ve been heavyweight champion of the world and dominated the division. It just didn’t turn out that way. I’m not sure why he didn’t get in shape and stay healthy. I guess some guys with that kind of talent just take it for granted.
“Then, all of sudden, you realize it’s over.”
It’s not quite over for a still-competitive Toney, now 40. He faces Tony Thompson in a heavyweight bout on Dec. 12 in Cabazon, Calif.
More Roach: If Roach could build the perfect fighter from among those he trained, he would have the …
Boxing ability of Toney
Punching power of Mike Tyson
Jab of Virgil Hill
Defensive skills of Marlon Starling
Chin of Steve Collins
Work ethic of Pacquiao and Hill
Durability of Pacquiao
