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Philippines, 18 Jun 2025 |
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Former Dela Hoya, Valero Trainer Eyes Villanueva PhilBoxing.com Wed, 13 Apr 2011  Legandary boxing trainer Robert Alcazar, who helped steer Golden Boy Oscar dela Hoya to the Olympic championship and 32 professional victories and handled the controversial Venezuelan power puncher Edwin Valero has expressed interest in fine-tuning and smoothing the rough edges of Filipino knockout artist Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva. Alcazar, who met with Braveheart Boxing Club cutman Jeff de Guzman and former Valero manager Jose Castillo in Los Angeles Saturday, said Villanueva reminded him of the young Valero when he came to the United States from Venezuela. "He was throwing wide punches and did not have the correct angles. He had poor footwork," Alcazar was quoted by De Guzman as saying on his experiences with Valero who committed suicide after allegedly killing his wife last year. At the time of his death, Valero was the lightweight champion with an immaculate record of 27 wins and 27 knockouts. (http://bleacherreport.com/david-diaz) De Guzman said that Alcazar, after viewing Villanueva's fights on youtube.com said it is rare to see fighters like Lorenzo who pack tremendous power with a big heart and who could take heavy punches. "He's just like Valero when I first handled him," Alcazar told De Guzman. Braveheart trainers Noli Pinol and Bruce Lerio confirm that Villanueva has unusual power. "His punches are painful even when I wear the mitts. It is like being stabbed with a knife," Lerio said. Alcazar said an improvement in Villanueva's footwork and the angle of his punches would transform him into a more powerful and formidable featherweight. "You can develop the boxer's skills but you cannot give him the power and the heart," Alcazar told De Guzman. Alcazar, however, cautioned Villanueva's handlers against rushing the 24-year-old southpaw in taking the big fights. "We all get excited when we see young prospects but there is no need to rush them. Let them mature first," Alcazar told De Guzman. "A boxer needs physical and mental development. You cannot rush him," he said. The veteran trainer said Villanueva would need about six to eight more tough fights before he will be ready for the big time. Former North Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol, who, along with his 10 brothers, owns the Braveheart Boxing Club which manages Villanueva and seven other young fighters said he has already informed Michael Aldeguer, president of ALA Boxing Promotions which holds the promotional rights over the WBO Oriental Featherweight champion, of Alcazar's interest to train the Filipino fighter. ALA Boxing staged last Saturday Villanueva's third defense of the WBO Oriental Featherweight title against Indonesian challenger James Mokoginta. The Filipino champion floored the Indonesian twice in the first and second rounds before finally stopping him in the 5th. Villanueva now holds a record of 20 wins with 19 knockouts and 1 No Contest. "We are excited at the prospect of a legendary trainer helping us out but nothing is final yet," he said. Alcazar, who was described by Dela Hoya in an interview as his close friend, was one of six boxing trainers who handled the Golden Boy which included Jesus Rivero, Emmanuel Steward, Gil Clancy, Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Freddie Roach. But it was Alcazar who stayed with Dela Hoya the longest steering the Golden Boy to 32 victories with only 2 defeats and 26 KOs. He was already with the Dela Hoya camp since the Golden Boy's amateur boxing days. Alcazar also handled the young Valero when he came in from Venezuela with a record of 18 wins and 18 KOs. Pinol said he has asked De Guzman and Castillo to arrange a meeting between him and Alcazar by the end of this month in Los Angeles.  |
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