When the NBC Sports Network presents the second edition of its nationally televised “Fight Night” boxing series on March 24, live at 10PM ET, from the Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach will once again join Kenny Rice, BJ Flores and Chris Mannix as part of the broadcast team. Roach made his “Fight Night” debut in January, and brings a world of boxing knowledge to his new role as a ringside commentator.
Few people know the game like Roach, who currently trains boxing stars like Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Prior to that, he had his own 8-year ring career that produced a record of 40-13 with 15 KOs. But more than anything else, Roach is a boxing fan who is always up for watching a good fight.
“I’m a big boxing fan,” Roach said. “So I’m happy to see the NBC Sports Network out there doing such good fights.”
Roach feels that it is the quality of the match that makes a fight worth watching or not. “What people want to see are competitive fights,” Roach said. “They are good for boxing. People don’t want to see blowouts.”
And Roach likes what he sees on this card. The main event is the 12-round Eliminator for the IBF Junior Welterweight Title between former champion Zab Judah and undefeated contender Vernon Paris.
“It’s a great match up,” Roach said. “You’ve got an upcoming guy in with the knowledgeable veteran. The question is, who’s going to pull it off. I know both guys pretty well. Paris was one of my sparring partners for Amir Khan, and of course Zab Judah faced Khan. I think it’s a very interesting fight, and I can’t wait to see who wins.”
In the 10-round co-feature bout, former heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich takes on Bryant Jennings, the guy who stole the show on the first “Fight Night” broadcast.
“Bryant is kind of green but the thing is, he makes up for it with heart and conditioning,” Roach said. “I thought he won his last fight because his conditioning prevailed. Obviously Liakhovich is coming off the bigger fights, but once again, it’s the young upcoming guy against the veteran who’s been there. Hey, it’s a very interesting fight and I can’t wait to see it!”
Roach is also looking forward to the third fight of this blockbuster triple-header, an interesting 10-round heavyweight contest between Tomasz Adamek and Nagy Aguilera.
“It’s always interesting to see how people come back after they lose a big fight,” Roach said about Adamek, who is returning from his TKO at the hands of Vitali Klitschko. “Sometimes guys work harder and want to be better than the last time, and sometimes they come back a little depressed. The key to the fight is to see how he took the loss. It should be fun to watch.”
Roach thinks it will be a very good show. “In all three of these fights, we really don’t know who comes out the winner. They all have the chance to go the other way. It’s a competitive card that is good for the sport.”
This not only benefits the fans, it helps Roach as well. “The better the fights, the better we do our job (broadcasting). It kind of pumps us up a little bit,” Roach said.
This boxing show is one not to be missed, whether you watch it on television or are a member of the live ringside audience in Brooklyn, NY.
“There is nothing like taking in the atmosphere of the whole live event,” Roach said. “A lively crowd pumps up the boxers and becomes part of the fight. Plus the young guys need the exposure. This is a compelling card that is good for boxing.”
