Freddie Roach to Bernard Hopkins: fights made based on economics, not race
Trainer Freddie Roach is willing to challenge legendary fighter Bernard Hopkins on the assertion that Manny Pacquiao has avoided African American fighters with a “slick” style.
Hopkins, always one to stretch the limits of political correctness, made headlines recently when he said Pacquiao wouldn’t fare well against a fighter like “Ray Leonard,” who represents a style Pacquiao has conspicuously never met in his career.
“Listen, this ain't a racial thing, but then again, maybe it is,” Hopkins said. “But the style that is embedded in most of us black fighters, that style could be a problem to any other style of fighting."
In response Roach was willing to take time out of his busy schedule to set the record straight to Fanhouse. He implied Hopkins wasn’t exactly one to talk as he had only faced “one English guy,” [Joe Calzaghe] and hadn’t beaten any Canadians recently [a
reference to his upcoming bout with French-Canadian Jean Pascal].
More critically, Roach said: “But Bernard, you know, he's my friend, and so forth, because I've worked with him in the past. But I don't know why people make racist statements like that. We don't need that stuff in the world of boxing. I think Bernard knows
that it's all about business and that it has nothing to do with color.”
He continued: “It's all about the best deals, the best fight that makes the most economic sense. It has nothing to do with [skin] color.”
Though Roach’s point is well taken, not everyone agrees.
WBC welterweight king Andre Berto recently backed Hopkins’ statements, but only vaguely, saying: “I heard about the statement he [Hopkins] made, and, you know, it's somewhat of a true statement.”
However, for Berto, what was more important than a racial observation about Pacquiao was the fact that he has undeniably showcased his skills in the ring against everyone he has fought.
“At the end of the day, Manny Pacquiao, you can't take anything away from what he's done," Berto noted.
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