Before last week, I was given the impression that American trainer Robert Garcia was a nice young man who could grow to be one of the best trainers in boxing and eventually take over the torch from the older guys like Emanuel Steward, Nacho Beristain and Freddie Roach. Respected Filipino sports columnists like Quinito Henson, Recah Trinidad and Ronnie Nathanielsz at one time or another referred to Garcia as a talented trainer who could help mold young Filipino fighters into world champions.
But just as he was starting to endear himself to Filipino boxing fans because of his involvement as trainer of Fil-Am world bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr., Garcia showed an ugly and dark side of his personality when he ranted at Roach following the latter?s analysis and comments on the younger Donaire?s boxing skills and potentials as a boxing star.
Worse, Garcia showed his dis-dain and disrespect at Roach by accusing him of making critical comments on Donaire because the Hall of Fame trainer wanted to take away the Fil-Am bantamweight champion from him and that Roach was trying to discredit him ahead of the annual awards of the Boxing Writers Association of America for the Best Boxing Trainer.
Garcia?s reaction and rants against Roach following his scholarly assessment and analysis on the skills and potentials of select Filipino boxers were so off the mark and off-tangent that he seemed like a boxer who has not hit the double-ended ball for six months.
His cruel indictment on Roach?s motive in making those comments betrayed a deep-seated contempt at Manny Pacquiao?s chief trainer and a confirmation of the disrespect by members of Garcia?s which was initially shown when his boxers Antonio Margarito and Brandon Rios mockingly imitated Freddie?s slurred speech and trembling hands because of Parkinson?s.
Basically, Freddie, in the informal interview that I had with him at the Coyeesan Gym last week, said that Donaire had the potentials of becoming a boxing star but he has to develop a variety of punches because he could not just rely on his vaunted left hook to knock out all of his opponents in the future.
He also warned Donaire against moving up to the featherweight division now where the likes of Yuriorkis Gamboa and the durable Orlando Salido hold sway. ?That Cuban will kill him,? Roach said.
Donaire reflected greater maturity in reacting to Freddie?s comments when he said that he would measure his success in the 122-pound division first before he would consider moving up to the featherweight division and added that he respected Roach?s views.
Maturity was obviously absent in Garcia when he said that the criticism was part of Roach?s attempt to steal Donaire from him and deprive him of the BWAA honors.
I am not Roach?s public relations man but I feel guilty about this because the tirades heaped on him by Garcia were results of a column that I wrote.
Did Roach disparage and show disrespect to Donaire alone?
Listen to these more cruel assess-ments by Roach of the other boxers:
On Bernabe Concepcion: ?I really thought this boy was the next Manny Pacquiao. The problem is he thought he was Manny Pacquiao. He has an attitude problem.?
On Rodel Mayol: ?The boy has no power and no chin.?
Was Roach trying to steal the BWAA honors from Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri too? Or even covet Concepcion and Mayol?
Garcia could yet prove to be one of the most outstanding trainers of his generation. He does not need to be abrasive and disrespectful to earn that honor.
As things stand now, he is still way out of Freddie?s or Nacho?s league. But personally, I would like Robert Garcia to be more of Emanuel, Nacho and Freddie rather than become another Roger Mayweather or Floyd Sr.
Also, it would help Garcia a lot in endearing himself to Filipino and Asian boxing fans by showing respect and reverence to the elders in the family and in the sport.
Perhaps, he could learn a lesson or two on filial piety and parental respect from his student, Nonito Donaire Jr., who, after a public spat with his father, knocked on his parents? door to reconcile with them and show respect.
