By Gerardo Granados: There have been many great boxing trainers such as Ray Arcel, Emmanuel Steward, Lou Duva, Cus D´Amato and Eddie Futch, just to mention a few of the most recognized. But who would you pick to be your trainer between Ignacio Beristain and Freddie Roach? I believe it would not be a hard choice to make but it would depend on your boxing taste.

WBHOF and IBHOF member Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain has been accredited to forge twenty two world champions under his tutelage, which is an impressive record that might last for a while before other trainer is able to break. Nacho resembles the old time trainers who would not allow his fighter to get spoiled by the press and adulators, the kind of trainer that will demand perfection to his pupil.

Beristain Notables Champions: Ricardo Lopez, Daniel Zaragoza, Humberto Gonzalez, Gilberto Roman, Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Victor Manuel Rabanales, Jorge Arce, Melchor Cob Castro, Rodolfo Lopez, Jorge Paez, Guty Espadas Sr., Guty Espadas Jr., Enrique Sanchez, Juan Carlos Salgado, Vicente Escobedo, Eric Ortiz, Oscar De la Hoya, Abner Mares and Jhonny Gonzalez.

Freddie Roach has been very successful in the last couple of years, he has been in the corner of several world champions but it is Manny Pacquiao who has let him be recognized as one of the best. Maybe Alex Ariza should get some credit but it is Roach who train the fighters. Freddie is frequently asked to train hot prospects to develop their over all boxing skills but only a few will get the chance to be trained by him.

Roach Notables Champions: Amir Khan, Bernard Hopkins, Brian Vilora, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Bernard Dunne, Dimitri Kirilov, Frankie Liles, Gerry Peñalosa, Israel Vasquez, James Toney, Johnny Bredahl, Jorge Linares, Lucia Rijker, Marlon Starling, Michael Moorer, Mike Tyson, Oscar De la Hoya, Wladimir Klitscho, Wayne McCullough, Steve Collins and Virgill Hill.

If you were a young fighter who just begins his prize fighter career who would you ask to start training you. If you were a good talented fighter or even a world champion who showed flaws on your game who would you like to correct them and help you to improve your strengths. If you were in a fight in which your opponent was tearing you apart who would you like to have in your corner to ask for advice.

I think Beristain is way savvier than Roach; he is way more experienced than him and also is an old school trainer who won’t allow you to get spoiled by success. I´ll pick Nacho, who do you pick?