Boxing:
Brother of Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach dies in Vegas
Las Vegas resident Joey Roach passes in sleep
Boxing trainer Freddie Roach talks to Manny Pacquiao between rounds during a welterweight fight aginst Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, December 6, 2008.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 | 1:32 p.m.
Joey Roach, brother of Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, passed away in his sleep Saturday morning in his home in Las Vegas. He was 47.
Like his older brothers, Joey Roach was a former boxer. His professional career was relatively short, just 14 bouts in the bantamweight division. He finished with a professional record of 8-3-3.
“Joey was the one boxing Roach brother who could punch, really punch,” Freddie told examiner.com Tuesday. “He was the one of us who could really knock you out.”
Following his boxing career, Joey became a successful operator of a telemarketing operation in Nevada.
“Joey had 130 employees, he owned a Ferrari and a Bentley,” Freddie remembered. “He was a good, smart businessman. I was truly proud of him and so happy for his success.”
Freddie will be in Las Vegas for his brother’s viewing today at Palm Mortuary. The funeral will be held Sept. 5 in his hometown of Dedham, Mass.
Freddie is best known for his training of the pound-for-pound champ Pacquiao, along with other world-class boxers. Pacquiao has an upcoming fight against Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 21.
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected].