Colleague Dennis Guillermo is all over the continuing flap like a cheap suit.
So I don’t have too much to add to the war of words going on now between two admirable boxing people, manager Gary Gittlesohn and trainer Robert Garcia.
Suffice to say both sides have told their stories and now the punches seem to be going below the belt.
I will toss in two quick words of advice to both sides. The words are “chill” and “out.”
Garcia, who I had the pleasure of co-managing when he was IBF 130 pound champion, gave it his all in the ring and has done the same since he followed in the footsteps Pop Eduardo (who molded not only his son but also Ferocious Fernando Vargas out of the La Colonia Gym in Oxnard) as a trainer.
(Poppa Garcia is a man of such high principle that he once spurned money by pulling out of an HBO televised title defense against Smoke Gainer when it looked like old rascal Murad Muhammad had stacked the judging deck in Mississippi. That decision cost us all money, especially the Garcias, but the father who picked strawberries in the fields until his hands bled to feed his family is a man of honor.)
Nonito Donaire presents world title strap to the Aquino family in Manila (Inquirer.net Photo)
In fact, Robert Garcia’s progress as a trainer has reminded of how Coach Freddie Roach grew as a trainer although admittedly Robert has yet to find his Manny Pacquiao type superstar. Those are few and far between.
(His brother Danny Garcia, who handles Victor Ortiz, is also a highly rated trainer but the family fabric has been torn for some time which is a story for another day and a shame.)
Robert Garcia said he felt Brian Viloria, managed by Gittlesohn, was not physically ready for his next bout.
Gittlesohn said that is balogna, that Garcia used that as an excuse to go work with Nonito Donaire for more money.
I also hold Gittlesohn, a onetime protege of Shelly Finkel, in high esteem. To show you how he treats “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria, he has the fighter living in his majestic California house. Managing boxers is, for him, not about the purses here and there but a labor of love.
Now Garcia and Gittlesohn and Viloria have gone their separate ways.
Normally, I like to pour gasoline on such raging fires but not in this case.
What’s happened is over and done with. Both Donaire and Viloria, both well regarded especially by Filipino fans, need to focus on winning their next bout, not on any side controversy.
Such divorces between managers, trainers, promoters and fighters happen every week in boxing. This one is hardly amicable.
But Team Viloria and Team Donaire both need to look forward, not in the rear view mirror.
Both sides need to go into combat July 10, one in Puerto Rico and the other in the Philippines, and post a victory.
The Garcia as trainer flap is played out and tiresome.
Marley, the peacemaker?
Who knew?
