Los Angeles, CA (January 9, 2009)...Legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach is no stranger to training some of the greatest champions in the sport. His latest endeavor is preparing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski for his upcoming bout against WAMMA World Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction M-1 "Day of Reckoning" which will take place on Saturday, January 24 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA and will be broadcast live on pay-per-view.
This is Roach's second fight with Arlovski who retained the esteemed trainer's services to help him with his boxing skills and overall readiness. Roach, who has trained some of the biggest names in boxing-reigning pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya and Bernard Hopkins to name a few-now finds himself preparing Arlovski for the biggest MMA fight of the new year. Roach and Arlovski are preparing both mentally and physically, and they are supremely confident that come fight night, there will be a new man labeled the "Best on the Planet."
"I think a lot of people lose to Fedor before they even step into the ring," said Roach. "You need to have the balls to fight him and I know Andrei is ready and will dominate."
Roach is working alongside Arlovski's wrestling and jujitsu coaches at his Los Angeles based "Wild Card" gym. Arlovski trains early in the morning focusing on running and strength work, followed by afternoon sessions at the gym where Roach takes the lead honing Arlovski's boxing skills. During their afternoon sessions, Roach mimics Fedor's various moves that Roach has observed by watching film of Fedor's past performances. In the evening, Roach stands by and observes Arlovski's ground work preparation.
"I watched Fedor's last 20 fights and I am tired of him," said Roach. "It is easy for me to emulate his moves because he is predictable. He sucks at boxing. He can't box. He can punch, but he can't box. I know he's great on the ground. I know his moves. He won his last fight with his fists, but he ended it with a submission. There are certain moves that he has that we can take advantage of."
"We are working on the complete game," Roach said. "We will be prepared if the fight stays standing up or ends up on the ground. Andrei is very confident and so am I."
Affliction M-1 "Day Of Reckoning"- Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and brought to you by Affliction Entertainment and its partners, Donald J. Trump and M-1 Global, Affliction M-1 "Day of Reckoning" is scheduled for January 24 a Honda Center in Anaheim, CA and live on Pay-Per-View. The loaded fight card includes 11 rousing bouts of fierce, full-throttle action headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski. The six-fight blockbuster PPV telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, features MMA stars Josh Barnett, Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Chris Horodecki and Matt Lindland in separate bouts. As a prelude to the highly anticipated PPV telecast, HDNet will televise live beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT five additional fights with the marquee match-up of Antonio Nogueira vs. Vladimir Matyushenko as the main event.
