There are very few trainers in the sport who consistently seem to work with as many talented pugs as Ronnie Shields. Putting in his work in Houston, Texas, the former junior welterweight title challenger has worked with the likes of Juan ?Baby Bull? Diaz, Mike Tyson, Pernell Whitaker and David Tua while presently honing the skills of former champion Kermit Cintron, Erislandy Lara, light heavyweight prospect Mike Lee, interim WBA junior featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, and unbeaten super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez, amongst others. A lot has been going on recently in Shields? life, from Lara?s inspiring performance against Paul Williams in July, a fight in which everyone felt he was robbed, Rigondeaux?s upcoming date against WBA champion Rico Ramos on December 31st, Cintron?s shot at WBC junior middleweight champ Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez, and the recent addition of Rodriguez to his stable.
I caught up with Shields recently to discuss the Rigondeaux-Ramos clash, the chances he feels Cintron has against Alvarez, what it?s like working with Rodriguez, his frustrations at Lara not being able to land a meaningful fight, as well as his thoughts on this weekend?s trilogy bout between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.
