My pick for trainer of the year
Hey there Gabi, how is it going? I hear a lot of noise in the background, did I catch you at a wrong time?
GS- I?m actually at the airport waiting for my cab right now. How are you doing my friend? I am doing fine, just leaving Vegas.
I?m doing fine myself, I called to tell you that I recently completed my year end awards and I have you down as Trainer of the year and it?s an honor for me to be speaking to you about this. Your thoughts?
GS- Thank you so much. As I mentioned I was at the Mandalay Bay this weekend watching the fights and a few reporters and fans reached out to tell me that I was their pick to win trainer of the year as well. I feel very happy that there are boxing fans out there that feel the same way as you do and that they are placing me at such a high level.
Well we place you there because your work with Sergio Martinez speaks for itself. Hard work pays off. I place you up there with Naazim Richardson, Freddie Roach, and Nacho Beristain as the very best in the sport. You have shown in your work that you belong there.
GS- Wow, what a list of names. Richardson, Roach, and Nacho are great trainers. I thank you for the compliment. And you are very right in saying that hard work pays off, because it truly does. I hate to tell you that I may not get the official trophy or plaque saying that title of best trainer in 2010, but I feel like a winner hearing fans come up and tell me that I?m their pick to win trainer of the year. But I personally think that maybe Freddie Roach will probably win it.
Roach may very well win it again, If he does I may have to make you a special trophy to make it official. I may send you a Diamondboxing t-shirt to remind you that my vote goes to you.
GS- Hahahaha! Thanks my friend.
No disrespect to Miguel Diaz, but why aren?t you training Maidana?
GS- Some people close to Marcos have mentioned that to me, and I would love to but the time they mentioned it to me there were only like 2 weeks until his fight against Khan. To fight a Amir Khan, a Freddie Roach trained fighter, more time would have been needed for me to have with my fighter. Early on, Khan was dismantling Maidana with combinations up and down. Maidana could have knocked Khan out in the 10,11, or 12th round but it was clear to me that Maidana trained for a quick knockout for this fight. Maidana punched himself out in the 10th and really had very little left in the 11th and 12th round.
It kind of reminded me of Judah/Matthysse. Judah ripped Matthysse with rapid fire shots early but late in the game Matthysse turned it up a bit and changed things. Matthysse vs. Maidana would be a heck of a war. A real shoot out. Your thoughts?
GS- Great comparison. But Khan to me did a lot of running. Lucas throws straighter punches. Maidana, not so much. Maidana doesn?t even bend at the waist a lot of the time. There is a lot to be learned. You are very right that Matthysse versus Maidana would be a real war.
I feel that Maidana?s awkward style of punching actually helped him in this fight. The looping over hand right that he throws allowed it to land at just the right spot.
GS- I agree. But Maidana still got hit way too much for me. That is also why his power wasn?t the same in the last two rounds because Khan got to his body and head way too much in the fight.
So is Cotto next for Maravilla?
GS- I would love to say yes but more than likely Margarito will get him first. That?s just the way things go sometimes. I believe that Sebastian Zbik is Sergio?s mandatory so we may face him early next year.
Is Lucian Bute out of the question?
GS- I would say yes because he might be too big. Bute fights at 168 and Sergio is best at 154-160. Even a catch weight above 160 would be too much.
What do you think of Bradley/Alexander for next month?
GS- I was seated right next to Devon Alexander at the fight this weekend. Great kid, he is also a very good boxer. Bradley is also a very good boxer himself so it may come down to who will be the better conditioned fighter come fight night.
Well Gabi, I will let you go since I hear that your cab just got there. But I leave you by telling you that you are my pick for trainer of the year because they had Pavlik crushing Martinez and they also said that Williams would outwork and beat Martinez again. But you guys went out there and dominated Pavlik and blitzed Williams so that to me speaks the truth.
GS- Exactly. I agree 100%. Once again thanks for your vote and I thank everyone out there that feels the same. I really appreciate you all. I send you a strong hug my friend. Adios.
