Garcia on Acosta-Rios, Cotto-Margarito, Donaire, More
By Chris Robinson
Following Nonito Donaire’s impressive blowout over tough Ukrainian Wladimir Sidorenko last month in Anaheim, California, I caught up with the talented former flyweight king and his chief second trainer Robert Garcia in their dressing room as they celebrated the victory. Despite being just minutes removed from another virtuoso performance, the main focus of everyone in the room was on a different man.
Fernando Montiel.
Donaire will challenge the WBC and WBO bantamweight champion on February 19th and today each man could be found at the Mizuya Lounge inside of the Mandalay Bay as they officially announced their contest during Monday’s press conference. As Donaire walked into the room I spotted Garcia to his right and was sure to get his take on the challenge that lies ahead.
Garcia noted that Donaire looks very strong and fast in camp while having sparred six rounds just the other day. A former junior lightweight belt holder himself in the late 90’s, Garcia has an immense amount of respect for everything that Montiel’s career has encompassed but he beams with confidence when speaking of Donaire’s chances.
Garcia also spoke of his lightweight charge Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios and his upcoming fight against WBA champion Miguel Acosta as well as the future of Antonio Margarito, who is coming off of a grueling loss to Manny Pacquiao with a rematch with Miguel Cotto possibly on his horizon.
In his own words this is what Garcia had to say during out brief rap session…
In against the best…
“Fernando Montiel is, at 118, considered the best at that division especially after he went to Japan and won his WBC title. I think we are in against the best and to be the best you have to beat the best and that’s what we are looking for.”
Implementing Hypoxic training in camp with Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios…
“Little by little. It’s something new for him. But the conditioning training that they are doing is going to help him a lot. But it’s something he’s getting used to. We got plenty of time so he will be in top shape for that one too.”
Miguel Acosta’s upset TKO over Urbano Antillon last year…
“It was a great win. He was looking really good and then to top it off he knocked him out in the ninth round I believe. He did an amazing job. We got to be very well prepared because I believe we are in against the best lightweight in the world right now.”
Waiting on Margarito’s return…
“Antonio, we are still relaxing. But a couple of days ago, on the fifth, he had another checkup and the doctor told him he could already start training. The only thing he could not do is spar. But he should be ready to come back hopefully by this summer.”
Prideful of Margarito’s performance against Pacquiao…
“We got to be very happy with what he did. He is very proud of himself and we are also. Because he was in against the best in the world. He was in against somebody who is, right now, unbelievably good, strong, powerful, and somebody who hasn’t lost in many years. So we are really happy and he’s really proud about what he was able to do against Manny Pacquiao.”
Eyeing a rematch with Miguel Cotto this summer…
“He’s ready for that one. He actually wanted to get something in before that but I think it’s best for him to just take a few more months and start training for that fight but he wants it really bad. He wants to show everybody that he doesn’t need anything illegal. The first fight was in Vegas and at that time I wasn’t with him but Nevada has great commissioners and they had somebody from Cotto’s camp in their corner. So what can you say? That the commissioners didn’t do a good job or his corner men didn’t see anything? I just feel that it was something that he never used for that fight.”
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. An archive of his work can be found here, and he can be reached at Trimond@aol.com
