Eddy Reynoso has vowed to take a more proactive approach with all his fighters.
The two-time Trainer of the Year has grown tired of his name being tied to drug scandals, particularly in recent months. Any boxer who wishes to fight under his guidance moving forward must now commit to his direct, hands-on approach – without exception.
“Starting now, I’ll be working with a team I can one hundred percent supervise,” Reynoso told ESPN Knockout’s Salvador ‘Chava’ Rodriguez. “I’ve let the boxers who have come to me to train, have their own work team – independently of what my training entails.
“So, what am I going to do from now on? Work one hundred percent with the team that I can supervise and manage. Not because the other boxers have had bad teams; but so that I have one hundred percent control of the boxers I am going to be training.”
The decision was made in the wake of two recent boxers – Jaime Munguia and Francisco ‘Chihuas’ Rodriguez testing positive for banned substances in separate fights.
Munguia, 45-2 (35 KOs) tested positive for exogenous testosterone during a post-fight urinalysis following his May 4 unanimous decision victory over France’s Bruno Surace. The win came less than five months after Surace, 26-1-2 (5 KOs) knocked out Munguia in the sixth round of a massive upset in Munguia’s hometown of Tijuana, Mexico.
One key move made by Munguia ahead of the rematch was enlisting the services of Reynoso. However, his drug testing snafu has now left him open to a potential multi-year suspension, fine and forfeiture of his May 4 victory.
Reynoso has supported Munguia through the process but also made a point to note that he did not oversee the former titlist’s nutrition during camp. That comment was backed by Munguia and his team, who went on record stating they’ve worked with the same nutritionist – Marco Antonio Pérez Espinoza – for his entire career.
Most recently, Mexico's Rodriguez tested positive for a banned substance following his stunningly dominant, unanimous decision victory over unbeaten Galal Yafai. Their June 21 WBC interim flyweight title fight saw Rodriguez batter Yafai, a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, and drop him en route to the upset win on the road in Birmingham, England.
The win is now under review after it was revealed on July 9 that a post-fight test produced adverse findings of a banned substance.
Reynoso’s only link to Rodriguez, 40-6-1 (27 KOs) was through a sponsorship. The trainer’s ‘No Boxing, No Life’ brand had a three-fight deal with Rodriguez, but the two did not train together – for this, or any other fight.
However, speculation of Reynoso’s influence grew after Rodriguez posted on Instagram a picture of the two standing together in a gym, holding Rodriguez’s newly won secondary belt.
“Thank God for putting me on the right path,” Rodriguez said on the social media post. “Mr. Eddy Reynoso, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to believe when no one else did. I will be grateful to you all my life.
“[L]et’s go for the 4 title[s] with God’s favor. [It’s] a[n] honor to be part of your team. #NBNL Management (Don’t be afraid to start over, you may like your story better).”
Reynoso was quick to shut down that talk, but is still left with four boxers with direct ties to their past drug testing scandals – Munguia, Oscar Valdez, Julio Cesar Martinez, and legendary four-division and reigning undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Better late than never for Reynoso to right the ship, to avoid any further accusations – false, or otherwise.
“Oscar Valdez is an impeccable young man,” noted Reynoso in reference to the former two-division titlist’s 2021 positive drug test that was ultimately dismissed by the presiding commission. “He’s a very disciplined young man like few I’ve seen in boxing. This problem arose, it was resolved and the fighter defended his (WBC 130lb) title (in a win over Robson Conceicao).
“Jaime Munguia is also a very disciplined fighter who was having a great career and this small detail came up. Now, what I’m going to do is get advice and get a good nutritionist team that is more attached to VADA… and that is closer to the people who manage VADA, to try to do things better.”
Reynoso is currently overseeing camp for Alvarez’s upcoming 168lbs championship defense versus Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, 41-0 (31KOs). Drug testing as contracted through VADA began on May 10 for the September 13 bout at Allegiant Stadium, home to the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.
