A perfect storm of events came with Carlos Negron’s last win.

His 1st round knockout of previously unbeaten heavyweight prospect Robert Alfonso took place on the undercard of the March 7 edition of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Fox live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It has since served as the last show to be offered by PBC, who has been forced to cancel all events from that point onward in the wake of the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The win also revived the career of the 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian, who’d suffered back-to-back knockout losses and was on the verge of journeyman status.

“I am lucky I guess because I fought on March 7, literally the last [PBC] show for boxing,” Negron (21-3, 17KOs) told BoxingScene.com from his current home—a one-bedroom suite in head trainer Herman Caicedo’s sports complex in Miami. “After that everything was shut down.

“We haven't moved from the gym; I take this very seriously.” 

Living in the gym is no longer a metaphor but an everyday occurrence for the 33-year old Puerto Rican heavyweight. The triumphant return to the win column was a feeling he never again wants to relinquish—to the point of changing his life for the love of the game.

“No one in or out, and we have everything we need here,” insists Negron.

His current roommates include unbeaten lightweight contender Michel Rivera, fellow rising heavyweight Cassius Chaney (18-0, 12KOs) and Caicedo himself. The veteran trainer and disciple of the late, great Angelo Dundee temporarily moved out of his home in order to make the same sacrifices as asked of his fighters.

“It would be wrong of me to demand my fighters make this commitment away from their families, while I'm safe at home," notes Caicedo, whose extensive list of clients also includes former bantamweight champ Juan Carlos Payano and current top-rated heavyweight Luis 'King Kong' Ortiz. Especially a guy like Carlos Negron, he sacrificed everything to give me all he had for [the win over Alonso] and hasn't let up. None of my guys have, and riding this out together with them is the least I can do to express my own gratitude and dedication.”

His actions have clearly resonated with the team.

“We’ve been quarantined for six weeks together now and hopefully things let up soon,” notes Negron. “Our coach also moved in with us here not abandoning his ship as they say. Which is very cool. I am blessed to be part of this and trained by Herman.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox