"The Filipino Freddie Roach," Marvin Somodio is humbled by the recognition
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Oct 2013
Ace HBO boxing announcer Jim Lampley erroneously called him Marvin SONSONA, (a former Filipino world champion), two weekends ago during the Miguel Cotto- Delvin Rodriguez fight.
Last Saturday, newly minted WBO junior welterweight champion, Ruslan Provodnikov called him ?The Filipino Freddie Roach? after their successful exploit in Denver, Colorado.
Trainer Marvin SOMODIO was grateful of the recognition alluded to him by his boxer in front of the world when HBO?s Max Kellerman did his customary post-fight interview with the victor.
Somodio, like his boxer, is in Cloud 9 after their scintillating knockout of hometown fighter and former champ, Mike Alvarado. He was uneasy of the praises alluded to him by Provodnikov during that interview, but happy that their hard work produced the results they wanted.
?Masaya at napangiti lang ako sir. Nag-iisa lang si Freddie Roach. Nagpapasalamat dahil tinuturuan at pinagkakatiwalaan nya ako sa maliliit o malalaki mang laban. Marami pa akong kakaining bigas,? Somodio told this Philboxing.com correspondent after their victory.
(I am happy and I just smiled sir. There is only one Freddie Roach. I am thankful that he has taught and trusted me with both small and big fights. I still have plenty to learn.)
It has been a memorable year for the young trainer from Roach?s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, where he moved from Baguio City, Philippines last year. He has acquainted and trained Roach?s stable of fighters, both prospects and superstars, in boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
This month has been the most memorable for Somodio and the Wild Card team. Roach with him as his assistant, were instrumental in the brilliant performances of Provodnikov and Cotto.
And when Provodnikov won his first world title last Saturday, the young trainer who was the main man in that corner and in the last two weeks of camp, was thankful of the opportunity granted to him by his mentor who cannot make it to Denver from the Philippines where he is training another boxer of his, superstar Manny Pacquiao.
?Unang pinasasalamatan ko walang iba kundi si Freddie na syang nagtiwala sa kakayahan ko at nagbigay ng mabigat na obligasyon sa akin.?
(Firstly, I thank Freddie who trusted me and the one who gave me this big responsibility.)
?Pangalawa kay Ruslan na naniniwala din sa akin at siyempre sa buong team kasama si Gavin Macmillan, strength and conditioning coach naming sa mahusay sa trabaho nya. Si Vadim (Kornilov) na mula pang umpisa ay nagtitiwala na sa akin,? The trainer added.
(Secondly, I thank Ruslan who also trusted me and of course, the whole team, with Gavin MacMillan, our strength and conditioning coach, for his superb work and Vadim (Kornilov) who trusted me from the very beginning.)
It was a dream come true for the former Philippine national team member in boxing who like his boxer, also achieved his first world championship title with him as a trainer on fight night. Somodio, who has a very short three fight stint as a pro, has gone a long way from the Shape-Up Boxing Gym of Baguio City where he started as a trainer for his fellow Filipino fighters.
?Sobrang saya ko. Pangarap ko rin kasi na pagdating ng araw makikita ng buong mundo na di lang magaling sa pakikipagsuntukan ang mga Pilipino, gusto ko rin makilala tayo na magaling magturo sa pakikipagsuntukan.?
(I am very happy. It was my dream that someday, the world will see that we Filipinos are not only excellent boxers but also that we are good teachers of the sport.)
Somodio flew back to Los Angeles after the fight with MacMillan and on Tuesday evening en-route to another big assignment, this one to his homeland, the Philippines, to help Roach train countryman Manny Pacquiao, whom he has assisted since 2009.
Happy but humbled by his recent success, the Iloilo and Baguio City boxer turned trainer, admitted that, despite their big victory last Saturday, despite his new moniker, he knows he is still an apprentice and a beginner, with no less than the Hall of Famer as his mentor.
?Alam ko na nag-uumpisa pa lang ako at patuloy pang natututo. Taas noo, ako ay Pilipino,? expressed Somodio.
(I know that I am just starting as a trainer and that I will be continuously learning. I am proud to be a Filipino.)
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Photo: Somodio (L) wraps the hand of Provodnikov. Michael V. Ornelas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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