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Adrian Roach soaking up valuable opportunity in Las Vegas

Valuable experience: Adrian Roach with former unified super featherweight world champion Mikaela Mayer

Adrian Roach admitted the opportunity to train alongside top professional boxers in Las Vegas has proved a real eye opener.

The Bermudian amateur, 22, has been fine-tuning his ring craft as part of a two-week training camp at the DLX Boxing Gym under the guidance of coach Kay Koroma, who previously trained former three-weight class world champion Shakur Stevenson.

For Roach, the chance to share the ring with the likes of former world champions Caleb Plant and Mikaela Mayer, has been as much of a shock it has inspirational.

Training with the best: Adrian Roach with former world champion Caleb Plant

“This opportunity has been in the works for about a year now,” said Roach. “I put myself out there and thankfully the guys here allowed me to come out and join their camp.

“It’s been amazing so far and in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve been pushed to limits that I never have been before. I’ve had a glimpse into what it takes to reach that top level and then what needs to be done to stay there.

“It’s been a real eye-opener. I thought I was in shape before, but I’ve been humbled extremely quickly. I’ve been adapting and just soaking up as much as I possibly can.

“Out here you realise quickly that no one knows you and you have absolutely no status in terms of what you’ve done before.

“I’m back to being at the bottom of the totem pole, but it’s great because I have the opportunity to just listen to all of these guys and take on as much advice as I can.

“I’m not some who gets star struck at all, but I have been shocked at times in their presence, because you see these guys fighting on TV and then you have the chance to work with world champions and learn directly from them, it’s really cool.

“I’ve been given some world class insight, but I’m also making some amazing connections too. You never know down the line where this relationships might lead and the different doors it could open, so it’s definitely beneficial.”

Roach is confident the valuable lessons he has learnt during the training camp could prove pivotal in his continued pursuit of qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Having endured frustration in his attempts to qualify thus far, including having to withdraw from the World Amateur Boxing Championships, last April, due to a shoulder injury, he is hoping to seize one of the remaining 51 Olympic spots at the final qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand in May.

“My focus is now fully towards that last Olympic qualifier in Thailand,” he added. “I’m in doubt the time I’m spending out here In Vegas will really be really beneficial and significant for when I get to the competition.

“I’ve already started to notice some differences in the short time I’ve been here. It’s been clear that with all the advice I’ve been given and guidance with my skills that everything has to be perfect.

“There really is no stone left unturned and it only shows me the level I need to be at to take those next major steps.

“I’ve realised that I am capable of taking myself to those levels both mentally and physically. It’s all about adjusting what I thought my levels were and pushing myself beyond what I thought I was capable of.

“I’ve been doing double the intensity and workload of training that I was doing normally. Just being out here and training with the level of boxers that I have, it’s definitely made me realise what I need to do to get where I want to.”

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Published March 09, 2024 at 7:55 am (Updated March 08, 2024 at 10:37 pm)

Adrian Roach soaking up valuable opportunity in Las Vegas

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