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This was in the Miami Herald
Ricardo Mayorga has never fought in South Florida but is familiar with the area's boxing gyms for fight preparation.
When Mayorga opens camp in two weeks for his highly anticipated bout against Oscar De La Hoya, the reigning WBC super-welterweight champion again will use a local facility.
Mayorga will train for the De La Hoya fight, scheduled for May 6 in Las Vegas, at the Miami Fight Gym in Doral, his attorney, Tony Gonzalez, said.
''He's always enjoyed the atmosphere here in Miami and feels as if he is home without all the distractions,'' Gonzalez said. ``As soon as he gets here, the better it will be for him in what he knows will be a very important fight.''
Mayorga's previous high-profile bout was his match against Felix Trinidad in October 2004. For the Trinidad fight, Mayorga preferred to train in his native Nicaragua. The move to remain home proved costly.
During Mayorga's training-camp stay in Nicaragua, a woman accused Mayorga of sexual assault. Although Mayorga was later cleared of the charges, the incident served as an example of why fighters usually prefer training camps far from their home environs.
''In Nicaragua, every move Ricardo makes is scrutinized,'' Gonzalez said. ``He didn't have the proper focus for the fight against Tito.''
One of boxing's brash personalities known for brawl-seeking tactics inside the ring and chain-smoking outside the ropes, Mayorga rebounded from his eighth-round knockout loss against Trinidad to win the WBC 154-pound title with a unanimous decision against Michele Piccirillo last May. Mayorga also did part of his training for the Piccirillo fight in South Florida.
''For Ricardo, a lot hinges on this fight. An impressive victory can help him land more lucrative fights,'' Gonzalez said. ``He's gone to the extreme of giving up smoking during training camp.
``To optimize everything he can for the fight, he felt it was best to train away from home.''
Ricardo Mayorga has never fought in South Florida but is familiar with the area's boxing gyms for fight preparation.
When Mayorga opens camp in two weeks for his highly anticipated bout against Oscar De La Hoya, the reigning WBC super-welterweight champion again will use a local facility.
Mayorga will train for the De La Hoya fight, scheduled for May 6 in Las Vegas, at the Miami Fight Gym in Doral, his attorney, Tony Gonzalez, said.
''He's always enjoyed the atmosphere here in Miami and feels as if he is home without all the distractions,'' Gonzalez said. ``As soon as he gets here, the better it will be for him in what he knows will be a very important fight.''
Mayorga's previous high-profile bout was his match against Felix Trinidad in October 2004. For the Trinidad fight, Mayorga preferred to train in his native Nicaragua. The move to remain home proved costly.
During Mayorga's training-camp stay in Nicaragua, a woman accused Mayorga of sexual assault. Although Mayorga was later cleared of the charges, the incident served as an example of why fighters usually prefer training camps far from their home environs.
''In Nicaragua, every move Ricardo makes is scrutinized,'' Gonzalez said. ``He didn't have the proper focus for the fight against Tito.''
One of boxing's brash personalities known for brawl-seeking tactics inside the ring and chain-smoking outside the ropes, Mayorga rebounded from his eighth-round knockout loss against Trinidad to win the WBC 154-pound title with a unanimous decision against Michele Piccirillo last May. Mayorga also did part of his training for the Piccirillo fight in South Florida.
''For Ricardo, a lot hinges on this fight. An impressive victory can help him land more lucrative fights,'' Gonzalez said. ``He's gone to the extreme of giving up smoking during training camp.
``To optimize everything he can for the fight, he felt it was best to train away from home.''
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