Freddie Roach wins another Trainer of the Year award

MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach has been named as Boxing Writers Association of America’s “Trainer of the Year” for 2014.

The 54-year-old boxing coach had a stellar run in 2014, which helped him clinch the Eddie Futch trophy for the seventh time.

After Manny Pacquiao dominated Brandon Rios in late 2013 to place himself back on the winning track, Roach guided the renowned Filipino southpaw in his two successful outings last year.

Pacquiao outpointed Timothy Bradley via unanimous decision in their April rematch to reclaim the World Boxing Organization welterweight title before dropping Chris Algieri six times in 12 rounds to retain the belt this past November.

Aside from Pacquiao, Roach also worked with Miguel Cotto in his campaign to capture the World Boxing Council middleweight championship from Sergio Martinez in June.

Cotto scored a tenth-round stoppage against Martinez to become the first Puerto Rican to win five world titles in four different weight classes.

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Roach, who likewise competed as a professional boxer from 1978 to 1986, had previously won the same BWAA citation in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013.

According to Roach, he dedicates his seventh BWAA “Trainer of the Year” award to his valued fighters and colleagues.

“Words cannot express how much winning an award with Eddie Futch’s name on it means to me. I’d like to thank the BWAA for this honor. My name may be on the plaque, but I am just a representative of the collective hard work and dedication from the most talented and hardest-working fighters and assistant trainers in the world. It is a privilege to work with them,” he said on an Instagram post by HBO Boxing.

Freddie Roach, after winning a record-seventh BWAA Eddie Futch Award for trainer of the year: "Words cannot express how much winning an award with Eddie Futch's name on it means to me. I'd like to thank the BWAA for this honor. My name may be on the plaque, but I am just a representative of the collective hard work and dedication from the most talented and hardest-working fighters and assistant trainers in the world. It is a privilege to work with them."

A photo posted by HBO Boxing (@hboboxing) on Feb 25, 2015 at 8:43am PST

Roach is expected to be busy in the upcoming days as Pacquiao will fly to Los Angeles, California on Saturday, February 28 to prepare for his long-awaited bout versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 (May 3 in PH) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. – Rappler.com