By Miguel Rivera
Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain could very well end his career as a trainer, after more than 55 years in the sport, if Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. defeats Canelo Alvarez on May 6th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Nacho wants to end his career on a very high note, and he believes a win by Chavez Jr. - who everyone views as the big underdog in the fight - would be the perfect time to ride off into the sunset. Last Friday, Chavez Jr. revealed that he hired Nacho to train him for this high profile fight.
The Mexican rivals will collide at a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds, and HBO Pay-Per-View will carry the event.
One of Nacho's greatest accomplishments was crafting the career of four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez and preparing him for his four fight series with Manny Pacquiao. In the fourth fight in 2012, Marquez knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round.
Nacho is also not surprised that most experts are making Canelo, who is moving up from 154-pounds, the clear betting favorite to win the fight.
"After those four fights I asked God to see Pacquiao go down once on the canvas and God gave me two [knockdowns in that fight. I was very happy, but now if Julio manages to get his hand raised on May 6 - I'm going to complete my happiness, and then I could leave boxing the following day," Nacho told Golpe a Golpe. "It is a challenge [to get the win in that fight]. If I succeed, I will be very happy. I will spend the rest of my life very happy.
"People are making Canelo the favorite because he has been active, because Julio is coming back from a hand injury and he's fought very little - but in the hands of Angel Heredia (physical trainer) he is going to gain a lot of conditioning."
