Pacquiao cornerman Roach to help train U.S. Olympic team

Michael Hunter can count on seeing a lot more of Freddie Roach.

Hunter, the 201-pound Golden Gloves champion from Las Vegas, trained at Roach's Wild Card Boxing Club a few weeks ago to prepare for the national tournament.

On Saturday, USA Boxing announced that Roach, Manny Pacquiao's head trainer, will work with the U.S. boxing team for the 2012 London Olympics.

Roach said he wouldn't have signed on to help unless he thought he could make a difference.

"I think it's embarrassing that America's not winning more gold medals," Roach said. "I want to help the Olympic team get back in form. I know the game well, and I think I have a lot to offer these kids."

Roach said his Olympic duties won't interfere with his primary role of training Pacquiao, Amir Khan and the other professional fighters he oversees.

"Manny was hoping I would train the Philippine Olympic team," Roach said. "But I'm an American. I need to help my country."

Roach will not be the head coach. That position belongs to Joe Zanders, a longtime amateur coach who was on the U.S. staff at the 2004 Athens Games.

Roach and Zanders know each other well and have talked extensively about what Roach's role will be.

"Me and Joe get along well," said Roach, who is volunteering his time and will begin his advisory duties this month during a retreat in Colorado Springs, Colo. "We've been working on this idea for about a year, and I'm looking forward to working with the kids."

The Olympic boxing trials will be in late July at a site to be determined. Hunter qualified for the trials after winning a gold medal last week at the Golden Gloves nationals.

■ SUPER SIX SEMIFINALS -- The four semifinalists for Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic Super Middleweight tournament were in town Saturday.

WBA champion Andre Ward (23-0, 13 knockouts), who went from being an afterthought in the promotion to the likely favorite to win it all this fall, said he's ready to take the next step when he fights Germany's Arthur Abraham on Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

"Everyone's hungry. Everyone's focused," Ward said. "There's a huge reward awaiting the last man standing. But my best is still to come."

Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs) has lost both of his Super Six bouts, to Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch.

Glen Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KOs) meets Froch (27-1, 20 KOs) in the other semifinal June 4 in Atlantic City.

The final will be in either late October or early November.

Ken Hershman, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports, would not say specifically how much money the champion will receive, but he indicated the winner's share will be seven figures.

Hershman also said Las Vegas could land the championship.

"Vegas is definitely in play," Hershman said. "It would be a great place to end what has been a great tournament."

Ward, who has fought his two tournament fights in his hometown of Oakland, Calif., said he has no problems with the championship being at the MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay.

"It's the finals; it should be fought in a neutral venue," Ward said. "Vegas would be a great place for the finals."

■ RETURN TO TEXAS STATION -- Top Rank Inc. sold out its first fight card at Texas Station on Jan. 22 and has decided to return to the North Las Vegas property July 15.

Diego Magdaleno, who won the NABF super featherweight title that night and looked impressive successfully defending his belt Friday with a third-round technical knockout of Gilberto Sanchez Leon at Mandalay Bay, is expected to headline the card against an opponent to be determined. Showtime will televise the card as part of its "SHOBox: The Next Generation" series.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.