Margarito's trainer takes his own ring knowledge, believes in his fighter
Noted trainer Robert ‘Grandpa’ Garcia has sure put his stamp on the boxing world. In the last few years he’s developed an elite stable of fighters such as Brian Viloria, Nonito Donaire and Steven Luevano, despite being just 35 years old. But nothing surpasses his recent union with former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito, scheduled to fight multiple titlist Manny Pacquiao on 13 November.
After a January 2009 fight with “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Margarito’s boxing license was revoked due to a hand wrap controversy. Margarito immediately fired his trainer Javier Capetillo and put the blame on him, saying he himself was unaware of any tampering made to his wraps. Garcia came into the picture in August.
Because Garcia is primarily known as an accomplished trainer, it’s easy to overlook his successful career as a fighter. His nine-year career saw him earn a 34-3 record, with 25 knockouts. Topping that, he won a March 1998 decision over Harold Warren for the super featherweight championship. For 10 months he was able to hold the title, with defenses over Ramon Ledon and John John Molina.
Garcia’s three losses, all of which were within his last five fights, were to the high profile fighters Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales, Ben Tackie, and Joel Casamayor. Because of that unfortunate circumstance, Garcia is sometimes recalled more for professional flubs rather than successes. But still, how many other trainers can boast to have lived that kind of action in the ring?
With Margarito, Garcia faces a fighter who is still trying to get over the wounds of yesterday. It is unclear if Margarito knew about his loaded hand wraps, and it will always be. That said, he’s still going to have pay for his association in the incident. Many are going to peg him an illegitimate fighter who disregards the safety of opponents, and a dark shadow will forever linger behind him.
Knowing this, Garcia was nevertheless able to see another side of Margarito. He said: ““Before I took over his training I met him first and I also met his wife. We spent a few days together and I got to know him and he is a great person. We talked about a lot of things to do with boxing. We talked about his situation after he was suspended and I decided to take over because I believe everything he told me and he was just very honest with me. We became good friends.”
Friendship might help, but it alone isn’t going to win Margarito’s upcoming fight. In the other corner will be Pacquiao, a man who’s been like no other explosion in the sport in recent years. He’ll be the heavy favourite due to his speed and technique, and there’s little doubt it’ll be an uphill battle for Garcia and Margarito. But Garcia believes it’s completely doable.
“I’ve been watching Pacquiao’s fights for the past two months and every night my kids and my wife keep asking me when I am going to go to bed. I tell them ‘After I watch these next two or three fights’. I’ve been watching him over and over and Pacquiao has lost,” Garcia emphasized. “Erik Morales beat him. Marquez almost beat him; it could have gone the other way. He is beatable. I think we are going to come up with a great game plan and Margarito has the strength, the power, the heart to beat him. I have no doubt that we are going to pull it out.”
Should he win, Pacquiao will take his eighth title in just as many weight divisions. On the other hand, a win for Margarito would surely be the upset of the year, and change almost all projective business arrangements in the industry. Only time will tell.
Tags: