by James Slater – We all know how much trainer Freddie Roach knows about the sport he makes a living participating in. One of the most knowledgeable trainers in the world today, the former pro fighter has also proven how good he is at picking the outcome of fights. Few believed him when he said his fighter Manny Pacquiao would stop the much bigger Oscar De La Hoya inside 9-rounds. But it happened. Few people, Roach aside, really felt “Pac-Man” would KO Ricky Hatton as quickly as inside three rounds. That happened also..
Though he has nothing to do with this Saturday’s WBA heavyweight title fight between champ Nikolai Valuev and challenger David Haye, Roach has once again given us his prediction for a big fight. As he has done before, Freddie has come out with a prediction that a good number of fans will perhaps disagree with. Roach has gone on record as saying the 6’3,” approx 220-pound former cruiserweight champion will not only win on Saturday night; but that he will also become the first man to knock out the 7’2,” approx 320-pound heavyweight belt holder.
That’s some prediction!
But who is willing to argue with Roach? Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Roach said how he feels Haye will “Crush” Valuev and that he will “Flatten” him. If he’s right, Roach will have further added to his already hugely respected reputation as a true boxing brain. As for Haye, if Freddie’s correct, the 29-year-old will almost certainly become a huge international boxing star. No, beating Valuev isn’t enough to transform an already well known fighter into a big star. But a KO win over “The Russian Giant” is.
Imagine the absolute ton of publicity “The Hayemaker” will get if he does manage to send the colossus crashing head-first or otherwise to the mat! Haye could probably live off the fame his highlight reel win will earn him for the coming six months or so. One thing’s sure: the sight of Valuev being sent reeling will prove a massive success for You Tube – where the KO, if it happens, is bound to wind up being placed for the whole world to see.
I wonder if 36-year-old Valuev has read or heard about what Roach has had to say about the upcoming fight, and if he has, if it has concerned him at all. Would you want as wise a boxing experts as Freddie predicting a brutal KO for the other guy if YOU were fighting?