And if strategy will play a major role in deciding the outcome, the duel of the cornermen will be as key as the battle in the ring.
Pacquiao’s chief strategist is Freddie Roach while Marquez’ tactician is Ignacio (Nacho) Beristain. Both are considered among the top boxing trainers ever. They‚re street-smart, clever and shrewd. They’re like chess grandmasters–looking to exploit weaknesses, capable of changing the complexion of a match with a sudden tactical adjustment and ready to do what it takes for their fighters to win.
Roach, 44, began training Pacquiao three years ago when the Filipino went to the US to find fame and fortune. Roach transformed Pacquiao from a raw jewel to a polished gem, teaching him finer points of defense, how to use footwork to his advantage, how to create angles for his deadliest punches and what to target in locking up a win.
It was the late Flash Elorde’s son Bebot Elorde, a promoter of amateur and professional boxing in Paranaque’s second district, who introduced Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario to Roach.
A former featherweight fringe contender, Roach turned pro in 1978 and compiled a 39-13 record, with 15 KOs. He was known as a scrapper who never backed down from anyone. "The Baby-Faced Assassin" sparred with the legendary Alexis Arguello and battled the likes of world champions Bobby Chacon, Greg Haugen and Hector Camacho.
Roach, who is of Irish and French-Canadian descent, learned the ropes from Eddie Futch and after retiring from the ring in 1986, became his assistant. He eventually struck it out on his own and opened the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Roach has taken at least nine fighters to world titles. Among them were James Toney, Marlon Starling, Michael Moorer, Virgil Hill, Willie Jorrin and Pacquiao. Although he suffers from Parkinson’s disease, Roach refuses to be hampered by the disability. He engages his fighters in punch-mitt drills and sweats it out with them in the gym.
In a previous article, I wrote that Roach’s approach to boxing is typically old school. He’s a back-to-the-basics fundamentalist and a stickler for hard work. He breaks down fight tapes like a basketball coach does with game tapes and develops a fightplan based on thorough analysis.
Roach will begin training Mike Tyson on Monday in Phoenix and is committed to be in Hill’s corner in a fight for the world cruiserweight title in Johannesburg on May 22. Roach trained Tyson for his last fight, a first round knockout win over Clifford Etienne. Tyson is tentatively set to face Kevin McBride of Ireland in July.
Roach is the most sought-after trainer in the world today. What sets him apart from the rest is his ability to communicate with and motivate his fighters. Not even Iron Mike can escape Roach’s scrutiny and uncompromising regimen in the gym.
Beristain, 64, has produced 14 world champions including Guty Espadas, Ricardo Lopez, Gilberto Roman, Melchor Cob Castro and Victor Rabanales.
Beristain turned to boxing at an early age because as an orphan, he was often bullied in school in his Mexican hometown of Veracruz. Marquez’ father Rafael, a former pro, asked Beristain to train his son before he turned pro in 1993.
Beristain is particularly fired up when his fighters take on Filipinos. He’ll never forgive and forget Rolando Pascua of Cebu for dealing his protégé Humberto Gonzalez his first loss as an amateur or pro in wresting the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight title in Los Angeles in 1990.
Savoring sweet revenge, Beristain was ecstatic when he guided Castro to dethrone Pascua in 1991, Rabanales to repulse Dadoy Andujar in a WBC bantamweight title bout in 1993 and Espadas to outpoint Luisito Espinosa for the WBC featherweight crown in 2000. He also steered Lopez to victories over Pretty Boy Lucas, Manny Melchor, Andy Tabanas and Edito Villamor and Rabanales to a win on points over Dadoy Andujar for the WBC bantamweight belt in 1993.
In 1998, Beristian went to Manila to accompany Joel Luna Zarate for a fight against WBC superflyweight champion Gerry Penalosa who retained the title on a second round technical draw. Beristain protested referee Richard Steele’s decision to stop the bout on ringside physician Dr. Nasser Cruz‚ advice.
Boxing expert Harold Lederman said Beristain "screamed like someone stuck him in the rectum with a three-inch hatpin" in crying foul and claiming a Filipino conspiracy to rob Zarate of the chance to dethrone Penalosa.
Beristain is a nuts-and-bolts strategist. Like Roach, he is street-smart and isn’t averse to employing out-of-the-rulebook tactics for his fighters to gain an advantage in a fight. Marquez has resorted to butting, holding and hitting below the belt to throw off his opponents‚ timing—–probably with Beristain’s consent.
The war of wits between Roach and Beristain in the corners will be as fierce as the showdown between Pacquiao and Marquez in the ring.