BN: Are you 100 per cent retired?
I find it fascinating that I’m currently doing a lot of commentating for DAZN and I genuinely enjoy it. Working the fights and witnessing young talent emerging is truly exciting. Sometimes, it’s difficult to resist the urge and not step back into the ring, especially when my body is recovering and it’s easier to get up in the morning (laughs). Occasionally, I spar with guys at the Wildcard gym and also in Puerto Rico, where I spend half of my time. It has become a way of life for me. During a conversation with Bernard Hopkins, he mentioned seeing me in the gym and emphasized that it’s a lifestyle that cannot be abandoned. And he’s right, it truly is a lifestyle. The moment you start throwing punches or attempt to avoid incoming shots, it just feels natural.
BN: You have described Bernard Hopkins as a mentor. How important has he been to you?
I had the opportunity to witness someone from my neighborhood rise to success in the boxing world. Right from the start, he emphasized the importance of discipline and dedication to me. When I was 18, I met Bernard and became his sparring partner for the Joe Calzaghe fight. From then on, he took me under his wing, bringing me along to training camps, like the one in Miami for the Kelly Pavlik fight. I continued working with Bernard from the Calzaghe fight until his retirement. Even now, we stay in touch, regularly talking on the phone or meeting at boxing events. Bernard has had a significant impact on my life, not just in boxing but also in teaching me how to manage and live life. I am truly grateful to have had Bernard’s guidance.
I believe one of the key factors that contributed to the longevity of my career was my ability to acquire and apply the tools and techniques that Bernard utilized. He was able to overcome the notion of being too old at 36, even when facing Kelly Pavlik. I learned how to master the fundamental aspects of the sport and control the tempo of a fight. Despite the reputation of Gabe Rosado for engaging in intense battles, I possess the knowledge of when to regulate the pace, knowing when to slow it down. A prime example of this was the fight against Jaime Munguia, where we consistently exchanged blows, but I was able to draw upon my experience and veteran skills to dictate the tempo, targeting the body and employing the tricks I learned from Bernard. Additionally, I have honed the art of effectively absorbing a punch, knowing how to either brush it off or minimize its impact by avoiding a direct hit.
BN: What has life been like since retirement?
GR: It’s been a great experience for me. I’ve been gaining a lot of knowledge and skills in various areas. Firstly, I recently got married, which has been a wonderful milestone in my life. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to spend quality time with my daughters, who are seven and 14 years old. It was especially enjoyable having my 14-year-old with me over the summer.
Moreover, I’ve been immersing myself in the world of commentating and studying fighters, which has been an incredibly fun experience. I take great pleasure in providing guidance and advice to young fighters, feeling a sense of kinship with Bernard Hopkins as I do so. It reminds me of how he used to assist me in my own career. Witnessing the potential of young talents excites me, particularly Diego Pacheco, with whom I’ve collaborated for the past few years. I’ve seen him grow and develop, even sparring with him, and I genuinely believe he is the future of the sport.
In today’s age of social media and constant exposure to the spotlight, it’s easy for fighters to become distracted and lose sight of the hard work required to succeed. However, Pacheco stands out because he remains focused, consistently putting in the effort and improving his skills. It’s a pleasure to witness his dedication and determination.
BN: You made your debut in Philadelphia the day before your 20th birthday. What are your memories of that time?
During that time, I vividly remember weighing in at 154lbs as a junior middleweight, while Phil Hicklin, a muscular individual, weighed in at 166lbs. Despite his imposing physique, I felt a surge of excitement, fueled by the fact that I had sold a significant number of tickets. In that moment, I was determined to fight regardless of the size difference (laughs). I recall my father becoming startled to the point where his vision became blurry. However, in the first round, I managed to land a powerful overhand right that resulted in a knockout against Hicklin. The crowd erupted with exhilaration.
BN: How do you sum up your career and look back on it?
I see my career as a reflection of how one lives in the boxing ring. Life has always been a struggle for me, growing up in the violent and drug-ridden neighborhood of North Philadelphia. Despite the challenges, there are also positive aspects, like the rich cultural heritage of the predominantly Puerto Rican community. However, most people in North Philadelphia never think beyond their neighborhood’s boundaries. I had a dream to escape this environment and fight my way out of it. Just like in life, you encounter obstacles and it’s all about fighting through them. This has been the theme of my career – I have always been the underdog. Whether it was knocking down the Olympian James Moore in our fight on ESPN or defeating the powerful Bek the Bully who had a reputation for knocking out opponents, I have consistently defied the odds. I view my career as a testament to not letting others dictate what you can achieve. Instead, believe in your dreams, remain determined, put in the hard work, and you can make incredible things happen.
BN: What do you think would have happened to you had you not found boxing?
GR: I was definitely on the wrong path in life. Growing up in a violent environment in Philadelphia, I learned to fight as a means of gaining respect. From the age of six, I was involved in street fights. If it weren’t for boxing, I believe I would have ended up making bad choices. Many of my friends either lost their lives or ended up in jail. I vividly remember a time when I got caught up in a chaotic street brawl. The police arrived, and we all scattered. Luckily, I managed to escape and find safety at my grandmother’s house. Sneaking in through her open window, I realized that I could have easily ended up in jail. It was a wake-up call for me, questioning why I was living this dangerous lifestyle. I made a firm decision that I needed a change, and that’s when I made up my mind to go to the gym and pursue boxing. From that moment on, I never looked back. The gym became my sanctuary, keeping me away from the streets and out of trouble. It gave me a sense of purpose and a dream to strive for.
BN: What would you say was the career highlight for you?
GR: There’s two times that stand out for me. One was when I beat Charles Whittaker in 2012 and it ranked me number one at 154. I went on the road that year on NBC Sports, I was knocking everybody out. I remember like, wow, I put myself in the number one ranking, the mandatory for the title. The second time would be when I reset and went with Freddie Roach and the gameplan with Freddie was I wanted to get back on that big stage, get a big fight, and a shot at the title. I had a goal and a vision and that’s when we went on that run where we beat Jacobs – whatever they say (Jacobs won a split decision against Rosado in 2020). And we did that in the pandemic in an empty arena. Then we got the knockout of Bek. Then there was that sold-out crowd when we fought Munguia, and it was Fight of the Year. I did come up short, but it was one of those where I put my mind to this and I really did it, we’re here and the fight was everything we could wish for as a fight fan.
BN: When you look at your own career you fought Kassim Ouma, Alfredo Angulo, Jesus Soto-Karass, Sechew Powell, Gennadiy Golovkin, Jaime Munguia, Martin Murray, Willie Monroe Jr, Joshua Clottey, Bek Melikuziev twice, Jermell Charlo, Peter Quillin….
Curtis Stevens, Brian Vera, and David Lemieux are some well-known boxers.
BN: Glen Tapia, Luis Arias, J’Leon Love, Fernando Guerrero… it reads like a who’s who. I counted 22 fights from your record when the opponent was a tough one. You must feel enormous self-respect that you fought so many times against these fighters.
GR: It’s probably what’s defined me and set me apart from a lot of different fighters and I think it’s the reason why it made me a fan-friendly fighter. I was always coming into a fight where it was like what is Gabe gonna bring to the table. Is this gonna be an upset? At the same time, it was a gift and a curse. There’s an art in how you move a fighter. So, for instance, when Canelo was coming up you couldn’t put Canelo in with [Miguel] Cotto. Cotto would have stopped that train fast. It’s the experience. You might not have a Canelo Alvarez now because Cotto could have ended that. It goes on with other fighters. When I beat Charles Whittaker and was mandatory for K-9 (Cornelius Bundrage, who held the IBF 154lbs strap). I would have beat K-9. He was about 40 something years old. I was a better fighter than K-9. But the team I had at the time thought that a fight with Golovkin on HBO at Madison Square Garden, moving up in weight, was the better move. Me being the young killer fighter, “Oh, we’re fighting Madison Square Garden on HBO. Alright, we’ll fight for the middleweight title of the world. Let’s do this!” You can’t talk me out of it, but I feel like that was a fumble with my team where they should’ve been smart and said, he’s not a middleweight yet. You gotta fully grow and develop into a weight. Golovkin was 30 at the time so he has his man strength and fully developed into the weight class. I was doing great at ’54. Like I said we could’ve won that title against K-9. I think that would’ve changed the course of things but when we got that fight with Golovkin – and even though it was brave, and the fans were like, wow! – I got beat and it got stopped on cuts. But that kept me stuck at middleweight because the ’54-pounders didn’t want to fight me no more and what happened was it took away my number one ranking because I moved up in weight and I no longer had a title fight. I was kinda obligated to stay at ’60 and then it was me trying to grow into the weight class. Everything’s about timing but the thing is that could’ve broken me, and it could’ve ended at that time for me. I figured it out, got myself back, and fought for another world title with Peter Quillin.
BN: So, that would be one of your regrets.
GR: My team could have handled things differently, but I don’t regret anything. Ultimately, you have to take responsibility for your actions. One important lesson for young fighters is to avoid the mistake I made when I fought Golovkin and continued to pursue big fights. The recognition and bigger fight purses can change you. Suddenly having money and fame can distract you from putting in the necessary work. Instead of staying focused and disciplined, you might be tempted to have fun and spend money. This can negatively affect your performance in the ring. How you live outside the ring reflects in your boxing style. Many fighters think they only need to train when they have a fight, but it should be a lifestyle. There was a change in my lifestyle due to money and fame, and it took me some time to refocus. My advice to young fighters is when the money comes in, don’t let it excite you. Save it, invest it, and maintain the same lifestyle and focus. Boxing is a sport for young individuals, and having eight to ten years in it is already a blessing. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
BN: What does the future hold for you?
Currently, I find great pleasure in commentating and keeping myself occupied with that. Although it’s not quite the same as being in the ring, it allows me to stay engaged and motivates me to continue honing my skills by returning to the gym. Sitting ringside and analyzing fighters’ mistakes while knowing I can no longer throw a right hand (laughs) requires me to ensure that I am also at the top of my game. Perhaps in the future, I may consider becoming a trainer and working with fighters, but for now, I am thoroughly enjoying my role as a commentator.
