Freddie gets GSP ready
GEORGES ST-PIERRE will have the huge advantage of legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach in his corner against Michael Bisping this weekend.
St-Pierre has his first contest in four years when he challenges middleweight champion Bisping at UFC 217 at New York’s Madison Square Garden in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Roach, who has trained a staggering 27 world boxing champions, will be making his debut as an octagon corner man.
The 57-year-old has helped train Canadian GSP before and has been spending time putting him through his paces in Montreal in recent months.
Roach answered a special request from St-Pierre, 36, and despite the demanding schedule of regular flights from his Los Angeles base to Montreal, he is a very happy man. He said: “Everyone in the corner is really friendly with each another and I will give the best information I can in there on fight night, and it won’t be strictly boxing. “This might be a little different than boxing, but it is combat sports and I know how to fight. I used to be a wrestler in High School. “I was never a great wrestler but I have an idea on it and watching it during camp has given me a better idea.” Former three-time welterweight belt holder GSP retired after his last fight victory against Johny Hendricks in November 2013. And Roach certainly fancies GSP’s chances against 38-year-old Bisping (inset), saying: “I love my men to fight big guys like him.
“Tall guys give you a bigger target and they are a lot slower. I think this guy is tailor-made for us, even though he doesn’t think we can outbox him.
“Well, we can and we will outbox him. If a stand-up fight happens, then it happens. We can also do the other things Georges is more accustomed to doing.
“We have been working on everything – every aspect of the game – and, believe me, we will take advantage of everything.”
St-Pierre has a three-fight deal with the UFC and Roach said: “If everything goes well and Georges wants to retire at the end, that’s up to him.
“If he still has fight in him, and if I still have fight in me, we’ll go on from there. I’m sure he’ll receive many offers – bigger and better offers.”