Freddie Roach: Ronda Rousey not the best boxer in the world, but will 'destroy' Holly Holm

It's one thing to have your trainer call you the best female striker in combat sports, but it's quite another to have perhaps the best boxing trainer alive critique your pugilistic skills.

And when you ask Freddie Roach for his opinion, you're going to get nothing but brutal honesty. That's just what he offered when asked for his take on Ronda Rousey's boxing pedigree during his recent interview on The MMA Hour.

While he admits she's good in the stand-up department, she isn't the best in the world. And he should know, because not only has he seen "Rowdy" fight, he's actually held mitts for her in the past.

"Holly was a good boxer, she beat some good fighters. Maybe they were a little bit older when she fought them, Mia St. John. She does have some good wins, she has 33 wins and maybe three losses. She has a good record. But, the female boxing never really caught on like Ronda Rousey has. Ronda is just huge right now. The thing is, she knows the ground game so much better than boxing. I like Ronda to win that fight pretty easily. People ask me if she can beat me in a fight, well I am 55 and I know nothing about the ground game, but if she gets me in a lock, I have no idea what to do with it. So yes, she can beat me. Ronda is on top of things. People like her and I used to do mitts with her a long time ago and it was a lot of fun. But she has stepped up and is high up there right now and I wish her the best of luck. She's not the best boxer in the world, but she is good. She is very competitive and she tries really hard. I mean, it's not probably the best thing she does, I think she is better at the ground game. But again, she is more experienced there. But her boxing is good. The girl she is fighting is a good boxer, also. While they stand up it will be a good fight, but once it goes to the ground, I think Ronda will destroy her."

Roach has spoken.

Rousey and Holm are set to throw down this weekend (Sat., Nov. 14, 2015) in the main event of the UFC 193 pay-per-view (PPV) inside Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (details here).

How long their championship showdown stays upright, remains to be seen.