CANADIAN LIGHTWEIGHT GETS A TASTE OF THE WILDCARD GYM
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 01 Jun 2010
Most boxers, particularly the young and aspiring ones from outside the Los Angeles area can only dream about the Freddie Roach? Wildcard Gym, let alone step inside the fame Hollywood gym that is home to legends like Manny Pacquiao and world champions such as Amir Khan of the Great Britain and Rodel Mayol of the Philippines.
So getting inside the famous gym and spar with some of the ?regulars? that frequent the world renowned sweat shop in Hollywood is a dream come true for a young Canadian lightweight, Steve Claggett.
Claggett is a native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is a 20 year-old fighter trained by a Filipino-Canadian named Eric de Guzman who runs a gym in Calgary. Clagget stands at 5?8?, not bad for a lightweight.
Claggett is still a relative newcomer in boxing, having only a total of nine fights. His record is 8-0-1, 4KO His last fight last May 15, 2010 was the first time he was matched against a veteran fighter with a total of 38 fights. His name is Martin Armenta of Mexico. Claggett won via a 2nd round TKO on a scheduled 8 rounder.
Few weeks ago, a friend of mine from Calgary, Ace Freeman of FightFan.com informed me that he knows a fighter who holds a respectable record and is trained by a Filipino-Canadian who is coming with him to Los Angeles to visit and feel the ambiance of the famed Wildcard Gym.
Freeman asked if it was possible for me to arrange the visit and possibly get some sparring whose quality is far different from what they have in Calgary. Along the way, he also wanted to have a brief interview with Roach for FightFan.com. and the likes of Rodel Mayol and Ana Julaton.
This writer asked Freddie Roach if it was okay for the Canadians to visit him and the gym. Roach agreed but indicated to me that I have to arrange it with his secretary, the amiable Marie Spivey.
To make a long story short, Claggett, Freeman and Filipino-Canadian trainer, Eric de Guzman came in to LA late Sunday night and stayed at the Ramada Inn a few blocks from the Wildcard Gym.
Bright and early Monday morning, the trio were at the gym and I introduced them to Freddie Roach and the whole crew at the Wildcard.
As fate has it, Monday was an unusually busy day at the gym and finding sparring partner for Claggett was not an issue. But before that, the young Canadian had to sign a ?waiver? that is a standard procedure for everyone that dons gloves and train at the gym.
Claggett was initially matched with Rey Beltran, a former sparring partner of the great Manny Pacquiao.
Claggett did not do too bad considering that he just came into town from a long trip from Calgary and it was his first time to experience the quality of sparring that is prevalent at the Wildcard.
Then a short time later, he was paired with Art Honavassian of Glendale, CA and Claggett stood his grounds as well. Honavassian is part of the fast rising group of Armenian fighters that trains at the Wildcard. The group includes Vanes Martirosian who is also a Freddie Roach pupil.
Pepper Roach who did the mitts for the young Claggett had some good words for the Canadian. He told this writer that ?the kid has good power and an excellent potential.? Coming from Pepper, that indeed is a very good indication of the future of the kid.
According to Freeman, Claggett and his trainer were so excited about being at the Wildcard for the first time. He indicated that de Guzman in particular was really soaking it in watching the other boxers and trainers, particularly Freddie Roach as they go about their routines.
?It?s like a big seminar for me,? de Guzman reportedly said. ?I am learning so many things just watching Freddie and this is really an experience.?
The trio spent the whole day at the Wildcard and they will do the same tomorrow. On Wednesday, they will fly to last Vegas to meet with Tony Martin at the Mayweather gym. They were hoping they could spar with Celestino Caballero up there if schedule permits.
They will be back in the LA area on Thursday and visit the Maywood Gym in east LA and meet up with Latino boxers that train in that gym and possibly get in some more sparring for Clagget. In the evening they fly back to Calgary.
Top photo (L-R): Roach, Eric de Guzman and Steve Claggett.
Claggett (R) spars with Beltran.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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