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Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa expected to be employed in Miguel Cotto’s Tampa training camp for one month.
But, after one week of sparring with the Boricua ****er in preparation for Cotto’s Nov. 14 showdown with Manny Pacquiao, the Bronx resident got the Donald Trump phone call.
After four day sparring days, comprising only 16 rounds, Figueroa got the axe.
“I’m still insulted by this, insulted professionally.” Figueroa told me Thursday morning. “I did nothing wrong down there in Tampa. I had no problems with anybody. I did my running and I went to the gym every day. I was there to work, to help Miguel and to sharpen up for my upcoming bout.
“I’m not sure who it was in the camp. I was at the Westshore Hotel, staying with the other sparring guys, and a guy called me and basically told me, ‘You’re fired.’
“I had just sparred four good rounds with Miguel the day before, on Monday. I’m still a little pissed about this as I got no reason, no explanation, no nothing. They got me a flight and I bounced back to New York.”
I asked Figueroa, who ironically is working hard to get ready for a Nov. 4 ESPN co-main event at Camp Lejune, NC., against ex-Pacquiao sparmate Rasha Holloway, why he didn’t question the caller.
“Oh, I did,” Figueroa said. “I questioned it because this was my job. I got a wife and kids to take care of you know. I got time off from working as a trainer in Manhattan at the Trinity Gym to go there. And I had sparred with Miguel for the (Zab) Judah fight. The guy told me, ‘I have no details on it.’”
So we’re clear this is not one of those “I was kicking the champ’s butt so bad they fired me” tales you often hear from removed sparmates. Figueroa is not saying anything like that. What he is asking is why his removal is such a mystery.
“I was supposed to stay until Oct. 30, which is Miguel’s final day in Tampa. Then he goes to Las Vegas. But, instead of one month, I got one week only.
“Cotto is also working with Fred Tukes and Kenny Abril but they do more boxing. I was the most aggressive sparring partner which is my style anyway. I was doing very well.
“I did super well when I sparred with Cotto for the Judah fight. His trainer then, his uncle Evangelista Cotto, said I was the only go who would go head to head with Miguel,” Figueroa said.
“Nobody said anything to me this time. Nobody said, ‘Be more aggressive.’ Nobody said, ‘Do more counterpunching.’ Nobody said anything to me. The sparring seemed to go well and everybody seemed happy.”
It should be noted that "El Gato" served with distinction in sparring with Ricky Hatton, Andre Berto and Sugar Shane Mosley. He never got the pink slip from their camps.
A 5-6 soutthpaw, Figueroa is 20-3, 13 KOs, and licking his wounds after a brutal KO loss to huge puncher Randall Bailey.
So Figueroa is not claiming he was kicking ass and taking names. And, referring to himself as “a professional,” he also makes no prediction as to who wins Nov. 14.
“I’m a ******* guy,” Figueroa said. “Sure, I’m Puerto Rican but I’m looking at Manny and Miguel like a fan who just wants to see a good, exciting and entertaining fight. I look at it and hope it will be a Gatti-Ward type of thriller.”
Now fighting under Roy Jones’ Square Ring banner, Figueroa acts as his own manager.
“I got this last sparring job on Twitter, one of Cotto’s guys asked me if I was available. I split with my manager and I do my own thing.”
The world awaits Pacquiao-Cotto.
Sitting in the Norwood section of The Bronx, all Figueroa awaits in an explanation for his sudden dismissal from Team Cotto.
I don’t think “El Gato” will get one but he deserves it.
linnk
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