Former WBA ‘regular’ junior lightweight titleholder Andrew Cancio will now work with trainer Joe Goossen, manager Ray Chaparro told BoxingScene Tuesday evening.
Cancio reportedly began working with Goossen Tuesday afternoon.
Cancio (21-5-2, 16 knockouts), who has not fought since losing by knockout to Rene Alvarado on November 22 in Indio, California, had worked with trainer Joseph ‘Hoss’ Janik over the last two and a half years. Under Janik’s guidance, Cancio had won his previous four bouts, including back-to-back knockout victories over Alberto Machado last year.
“We have nothing but respect for ‘Hoss,’” Chaparro told BoxingScene. “He’s one of the best mentally-prepared trainers in boxing. Andrew believed he just needed another push towards one day fighting again for a world title.”
Days after the loss to Alvarado, Cancio was released from his promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions, reportedly due to criticizing the promotional company for not fighting on more prominent platforms.
Cancio was expected to make his promotional debut on April 25 with Top Rank, who he signed a promotional deal with in January. The fight, which was scheduled to take place on the undercard of the bantamweight unification fight between Naoya Inoue and John Riel Casimero in Las Vegas against once-beaten Tyler McCreary, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goossen, who has gained a reputation for resurrecting the careers of fighters that are on the back-end of their careers, has trained several world titleholders over a career that has spanned over 30 years. Goossen has trained Michael Nunn, Rafael and Gabriel Ruelas, Joel Casamayor, the late-Diego Corrales, Shane Mosley, and most-recently Amir Khan, John Molina, and Chris Arreola.
Cancio would like a rematch with Alvarado, but is open to facing any of the top fighters at 130 pounds.
“We’re keeping an eye on what Navarro. Andrew would like to avenge his loss against (IBF titleholder) Joseph Diaz. He’s open to fighting (WBC titleholder) Miguel Berchelt. He would like to any of those fighters,” said Chaparro.
The 31-year-old, who works full-time for the Southern California Gas Company, celebrated the birth of his daughter Penelope Rose Cancio this past Saturday morning.
Cancio currently lives and trains in the California coastal city of Ventura.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
ADD COMMENT VIEW COMMENTS (9)