By Lem Satterfield
A former IBF super featherweight champion who compiled a record of 35-3 with 25 knockouts, trainer, Robert Garcia, recently worked the corner of former WBA interim super flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 knockouts) for last Saturday's HBO-televised, Top Rank Promotions second-round knockout of WBO and WBC bantamweight king Fernando Montiel (44-3-2, 34 KOs).
Garcia also works the corner of ex-welterweight king Antonio Margarito, rising lightweight star Brandon Rios and unbeaten featherweight contender Miguel "Mikey" Garcia.
Just prior to Donaire's stoppage of Montiel, HBO's ringside analyst, Max Kellerman, apparently upset Garcia with his assessment of the trainer's resume.
"I hope Max sees this. When we were walking to the room where they were going to do the meetings with the fighters on the day of the weigh-in, Max tells me 'so Robert, how do you feel to be with the A-level fighter now, you're always with the B-level.' I was like 'what are you talking about? Brandon is not A-level? My brother, Margarito is not A-level?' Even though he lost to Pacquiao, he's still A-level. The f**ker tells me 'does it feel to be in an A-level fight now, in the A-level corner.' [Kellerman] is B-level," Garcia told FanHouse.
"[Manager] Cameron [Dunkin got mad too. He was like 'what the f**k is this f**ker talking about?' And then after the interview, I guess he must of felt bad. He came up to me and Cameron and said 'guys, you should bring Brandon back to HBO.' Cameron was like 'that's not happening, he's with Showtime now.' And then after the fight, before the [Doniare post-fight] interview and [HBO] started taping - he tells me the same thing again - 'you're A-level now.'"
