Veteran Trainer Roach Helping Mold Tyson Into Shape
USA TODAY - January 21, 2003
Freddie Roach has heard all the stories about new pupil Mike Tyson.
He's heard how Tyson refuses to listen to trainers, how he slacks off in the gym and how sometimes he doesn't even bother to show up so he can slack off.
''I was warned not to take it by friends. I was told I'm crazy. But I wanted to give Mike a chance and see how he treats me,'' Roach says.
So after three weeks of working with the mercurial former heavyweight champ in Las Vegas, how's it going?
''It's been nothing but respect,'' Roach says. ''It's really going well. Everything I ask him to do he does. We get up in the morning to run and I go over to his house at 5:30 and he's waiting for me. We go to the gym and work the mitts. We're up to 10 rounds a day. (Today) we start sparring. I think he really wants to do this.''
''This'' is fight, something Tyson hasn't done too much of in recent years. Roach is Tyson's third trainer in as many fights, following two other highly regarded cornermen in Ronnie Shields and Tommy Brooks. Now it's up to Roach to prepare Tyson for a Feb. 22 fight vs. Clifford Etienne (Showtime), Tyson's first bout since Lennox Lewis left him lying on the canvas like a lump of dirty laundry last June. A Tyson win means a Lewis rematch later this year.
Tyson adviser Shelly Finkel is pleased the pairing is working. ''He told Freddie he'll listen to what he says,'' Finkel says. ''We know saying it and doing it are two different things. But Freddie is a no-nonsense guy, someone who will be firm. So far things are going well.''
Roach says Tyson has his ''good days and bad days'' in the gym but he's always there when he's supposed to be and he's in shape. His weight is down from 244 when they started to 229.
''His moods can change and he's had a couple of bad days where he doesn't want to be there, but when I've pushed him hard, he had no problem,'' Roach says. ''I'm not there to be his buddy and I think he respects that. About a week ago he started throwing up in the 10th round because I was working him so hard. When he was done puking, I told him to finish the round. He swore at me, but he finished the round.''
Tyson had better sacrifice for Roach, because Roach is sacrificing for him. He left his assistants to run his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and take care of his 20 pros, including James Toney, Manny Pacquiao, Juan Lazcano and Brian Viloria, while he's working with Tyson.
''I've got five assistants who work for me, and they are doing a good job,'' he says. ''This is a big opportunity for me to train Mike. It pays the bills for a while.''
However, Roach makes it clear he didn't take the gig only for the payday.
''I'm not worried about getting fired. I don't need Mike. I got other guys,'' Roach says. ''If I was here and he wasn't showing up, I wouldn't be here. I have other good fighters who miss me when I am away. I talked to Shelly when we started and told him I don't want to waste my time, and so far I haven't. Mike's been working every day, and I'm having a little bit of fun with it. To bring this guy back, I think I can do it. He has to want to do it, but so far it's heading in that direction.''
