Freddie Roach voted Top Trainer

Freddie Roach will collect the 2008 Boxing Writers of America Association award for Trainer of the Year this Friday night in New York before heading to Bolton with Amir Khan. Roach, regarded as the world's number one boxing trainer, recently masterminded Manny Pacquaio's devastating two-round victory over Ricky Hatton and is preparing Khan to win his first world title. Bolton star Khan takes on Ukrainian hardman Andreas Kotelnik at London's O2 Arena on June 27. Khan has been under Roach's guidance since the loss to Breidis Prescott last September, and has racked up two impressive wins over Oisin Fagan and the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera. The 22-year-old is delighted for his mentor. He said, "Freddie is a great man and a great trainer and I am so happy for him to get the award," "He is well respected throughout the sport and the result of his work can be seen when the boxers fight," "I've been working hard with Freddie in the gym for nearly eight weeks now and he feels that I am ready for the fight," "We have been working on the plan to beat Kotelnik and as long as I follow instructions then I know I will win," "Freddie will have another world champion under his belt!"