By Miguel Rivera
Alberto 'El Explosivo' Machado will have use of the same tools that are currently being utilized by his promoter, former four division world champion Miguel Angel Cotto.
Machado is scheduled to return to the ring on August 18 at the Feria Complex of Ponce.
The undefeated super featherweight and current NABO champion will travel to Los Angeles, California, on Monday to report to the mythical Wild Card Gym - where he will be assisted in his preparation by Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and his assistant Marvin Somodio. Roach is Cotto's head trainer.
Machado, who has a record of 17-0 and 15 KO's, will only go to Los Angeles for seven weeks. From there he will be accompanied by Somodio, who will handle the day of the fight and implement the plan to be put together by Roach.
"Machado will be in Los Angeles for about seven weeks. He will do his physical work with Gavin McMillan, and will work with Freddie and Marvin. He will receive the same exclusive treatment that Miguel receives for each of his fights. We want to continue to evolve and prepare him on another level for the upcoming fight," said Bryan Perez, director of Miguel Cotto Promotions, to Carlos Narvaez.
"Marvin already saw Machado fight and Freddie has the plan ready. We want you to take advantage of the opportunity of a high-level camp and to prepare him for the time when the big moment arrives."
On the August date, Machado will face Mexico's Carlos 'The Solution' Morales, who is 16-1-3 and 6KO's. Morales is NABA champion, a subsidiary of the World Boxing Association (WBA).
The event will be the first co-promotion of the year in the new alliance between Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. It will also be broadcast under the ESPN television platform.
Roach will start work with Machado next Tuesday, once the veteran coach arrives in Los Angeles from Australia, where his protégé Manny Pacquiao will defend his welterweight crown against Jeff Horn on Saturday.