Sorry to hear about that minor injury suffered by Fil-Am world champion Brian Viloria.
But I’ve got a quick, easy cure for the fighter known as “Hawaiian Punch.”
As they say in Yo Paulie Malignaggi and Lou DiBella’s old Benshurst, Brooklyn, stomping grounds:
“Forget about it!”
Bruised ego, that’s the lesser malady afflicting Viloria, who is expertly managed by one of the few saintly characters in boxing, attorney Gary Gittlesohn.
Colleague based in Naptown, Dennis DSource Guillermo, has already covered this situation from A to Z and I’m not looking to blow it out of proportion.
But I will take up for trainer and former IBF junior lightweight champ and all around salt of the earth guy Robert Garcia, he of the legendary Oxnard boxing clan headed up by WOMO, Wise Old Mexican Owl and Garcia’s father, Eduardo.
Over at Boxingconfidential.com spawn, BoxingTruth, ubiquitous boxing nutjob TMoney summarized the Viloria-Donaire flap including “copycat” remarks from Brian’s girlfriend and a retort of sorts from Donaire’s wife.
They write books and make movies about guys like Papa Garcia, whose hands probably still bleed and ache from years of picking strawberries.
His days as a fruit or vegetable picker are long gone but Poppa Garcia’s boxing crops have included not only his world champion, overachiever son but also a large talent and multiple world champion named Fernando Vargas.
Suffice to say, Poppa Garcia don’t need no stinking badges to prove his boxing credentials.
Which gets me back to Viloria who is bothered by the fact that another world champ, Nonito Donaire, has brought Robert into his camp as a strategist and cornerman.
Viloria has said he’s worried about Robert spreading himself too thin. Hey, Robert loves his tacos and enchiladas, so don’t worry about that.
On the serious side, all trainers are independent contractors. From Coach Freddie Roach to Joe Schmoe, they render their services whenever and wherever they see fit.
No one has ever questioned Robert’s work ethic as a fighter or now as a trainer.
It’s safe to say the little dynamo who I had the privilege of co-managing along with Scott Woodworth, is the second hottest trainer in California, second only to Pacquiao tutor Roach.
Garcia is in demand for a reason, the reason being he’s highly competent.
But I’d bet dollars to donuts that Viloria has never given Garcia a contract. Roach has no contract, other than a moral one, with Pacman
Trainers with contracts are as rare as honest hedge fund operators and used car salesmen.
If Viloria wants to tie Garcia up, then give him something on paper. If you want exclusivity or to bind him for a certain amount of time for every training camp and bout, then make it worth his while.
This bruised ego thing, this too shall pass. But, without a contract, Garcia was under no obligation to clear his alignment with Donaire with Viloria.
It might’ve been good business practice for Garcia to ring Viloria up and give him a heads up just as a professional courtesy.
Promoters get contracts.
Fighters get everything put down on paper.
So do the few managers extant worthy of the name.
Only trainers go paperless, work without the protection of contracts.
That’s how it is in boxing.
Trainers like Garcia must adopt the old saying of Don King and go where the wild goose goes.
Garcia can deliver the goods for both Viloria and Donaire.
Trainers such as Angelo Dundee, Manny Steward and others at the top level have often juggled multiple clients.
Steward deftly trained Julio Cesar Chavez at the same time he prepped Oliver “Atomic Bull” McCall to go to London to behead heavyweight champeen Lennox Lewis.
If it ever comes to pass that Viloria and Donaire fight, then Garcia must make a choice.
As for now, book ‘em, Robert, book all the paying clients you can.
