GARCIA TRAINER PREDICTS GREAT TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 07 Oct 2011
The trainer of WBO light flyweight champion Ramon "Principe" Garcia Hirales, Leo Camacho, predicts the title defense against former WBO minimum weight champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes will be "a great fight" in the true tradition of Philippine-Mexican ring rivalry.
Camacho who is a professor teaching ethics, values and history told philboxing.com/insidesports.ph that Garcia Hirales who arrived in the Philippines and began training in Cebu some three weeks before Saturday's classic showdown is in great shape and determined to retain his title against a worthy opponent.
The Mexican southpaw's willingness to come to the Philippines to defend his title indicates the level of confidence he has in himself.
A cool, calm and relaxed champion told us that he was just one pound over the light flyweight limit on the eve of the official weigh-in at 1:00 p.m. today at the SM Mall and that after a jog this morning he should have no problem making the 108 pound limit.
Camacho said Garcia who uses his mothers maiden name Hirales to distinguish him from his identical twin brother and former WBO minimum weight champion Raul "Rayito" Garcia is "in excellent shape and he's hungry for success. He needs it and is really motivated because of this fight."
Camacho believes that after a successful title defense against Nietes, brother Raul would beat former Puerto Rican world champion Ivan Calderon in their upcoming title fight and he would return to their hometown of La Paz, Mexico once again with two world champions.
The identical twin brothers re-wrote boxing history when they both won world titles on the same fight card and Camacho wants to relive that memorable moment.
Camacho said that Garcia Hirales is "really looking forward to staying as a world champion for a long, long time."
Known as "Professor" because of his teaching skills, Camacho said he "doesn't care about the money. We came three weeks earlier (where Garcia Hirales sparred in Cebu's Omega Gym with Johnreil Casimero and Jason Canoy) because this is a primary fight for the champion to support his career. He wants to have a successful fight and then go up to the flyweight division."
Talking about the style and the advantages of Garcia Hirales, Camacho said "I'm going to be honest with you. He has a left hook like Julio Cesar Chavez (The legendary Mexican champion), he has a swing like (Manny) Pacquiao and the speed and power of Tommy "The Hitman" Hearns. Its a strong declaration."
The trainer stressed that Garcia Hirales is "a clean fighter and we hope that Nietes will also make it a good, clean fight just like he did before when he fought other Mexican fighters."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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