Robert Garcia breaks down the best fighters he's trained

[Newzz]

Robert Garcia is widely lauded as one of the top trainers in boxing today, but he didn’t start as one.

As a boxer, Garcia won the vacant IBF junior lightweight title in 1998. Surprisingly, though, he doesn’t credit the win over Harold Warren as his proudest moment in the ring.

“My greatest moment as a fighter wasn’t winning the title, it was my first title defense when I beat Ramon Ledon,” Garcia told RingTV.com. “He was very strong and dropped me in the second round and pretty much had me out. I survived a few more rounds and then in the fifth I knocked him out.”

Garcia would make two successful defenses before losing to the late Diego Corrales. He retired from boxing at 26 with a record of 34-3, 25 knockouts. But boxing had always in Garcia’s blood, having learned his craft from his father, Eduardo, who was celebrated for his work with Fernando Vargas.

Robert, 39, always felt his true calling was as a trainer.

Since turning to training in 2004 Garcia has worked with countless world champions, though has been actively involved in nine fighters winning world titles.

Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, situated in Oxnard, California, is now home to many of the best boxers in the world, including Marcos Maidana, Nonito Donaire, Mikey Garcia (Robert’s little brother), Brandon Rios, Evgeny Gradovich and others.

And while many inside boxing align themselves with certain people and companies, Garcia remains impartial.

“I’m the only trainer that works good with everyone,” he said. “I’m fortunate to have a good relationship with Golden Boy, Top Rank and Lou DiBella. I’m the type of trainer that doesn’t pick sides. I work with everybody, I get along with everybody.”

Relationships are what Garcia values most. The three-time RING Magazine Trainer of the Year creates a family vibe in his gym and has a close bond with many of his fighters. He says he appreciates his many accolades but says it’s a team effort.

“My goal is to have all my fighters taken care of for the rest of their lives and all my assistants in the gym taken care of, seeing their happy faces after the win. That’s my goal, just to keep my family, friends and team happy.”

Garcia kindly agreed to speak with RingTV.com about the best he trained in 10 key categories.

Best Boxing Skills – Joan Guzman, Nonito Donaire and Mikey Garcia – Years ago when I was working with Joan Guzman he was very skilful. Now Nonito Donaire and Mikey Garcia are very skilful. I can’t really pick one from another but all three are very skilful fighters. Oleksandr Gvozdyk, he’s a 2012 [Olympic] bronze medalist, that guy has tremendous skills.

Best Jab – Brandon Rios – Mikey works the jab very well, that’s the punch we always taught him, everything off the jab. But Brandon Rios has hurt a lot of fighters with the jab. I would say Brandon has a solid jab. Mikey has the jab to time and then land the right hand. Both have a great jabs but Brandon has hurt a lot of fighters with the jab and dropped a few so I would have to pick Brandon.

Best Defense – Guzman and Garcia – Guzman had tremendous defense when I had him for a couple of fights, he was very smart. Right now Mikey is a very defensive fighter, hardly ever gets hit.

Best Chin – Rios – We’ve got to go with Brandon Rios. That guy gets hit and he doesn’t even blink. ‘Chino’ Maidana has a tremendous chin but he’s been dropped a couple of times. He gets up but he’s been dropped a few times so I’d say Brandon Rios.

Best Puncher – Marcos Maidana – If we go by the records, Brandon Rios has a lot of knockouts, Nonito Donaire has a lot of knockouts, Mikey Garcia has mostly knockouts. Egidijus Kavaliauskas (a Lithuanian welterweight prospect) has tremendous power, that kid is a monster. I’ve had Kelly Pavlik, he was a tremendous puncher, but we’ve got to also say Chino Maidana is the one that hits hardest.

Fastest Hands – Donaire – Has a lot of speed. I would probably say Nonito is the fastest of all.

Fastest Feet – Thomas Dulorme – I’d say Dulorme, he moves very well. Nonito Donaire has very good footwork. Mikey has very good feet but I’d say Dulorme is very fast, he uses the ring very well.

Smartest – Garcia – Mikey’s very smart. He’s very smart when it comes to being inside the ring, through training camp, everything that has to do with boxing Mikey’s probably the one.

Strongest – Egidijus Kavaliauskas – He’s a strong guy, physically and mentally very strong. He thinks there’s nobody that can beat him. He knocks out sparring partners in the gym.

Best Overall – That’s a hard one for me to answer. I’m very happy with what we’ve done with Brandon Rios, he’s made a lot of big fights, a lot of money. Nonito Donaire has won world titles in four weight divisions being with me. Mikey is already two-time world champion. (Evgeny) Gradovich is a fighter that is very dedicated, he’s probably the one that’s the most dedicated. With Maidana what we did with (Adrien) Broner and then (Floyd) Mayweather. I can’t really say who is the best because I don’t want them to feel bad but they’re all really talented. We are all one.


http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/355431-best-ive-trained-robert-garcia

I counted Mikey Garcia's name being mentioned the most, so he must be the winner. Garcia is a great trainer though, and he has done good work with everyone he's worked with.

 

[krackdagawd]

I thought for sure Guzman had next

The Dominican curse

 

[patscorpio]

Guzman just lost his discipline...all the god given talent in the world gone to absolute waste..the Dominican james toney..that khabib fight where he took his first L was sad man

 

[krackdagawd]

Guzman just lost his discipline...all the god given talent in the world gone to absolute waste..the Dominican james toney..that khabib fight where he took his first L was sad man

You know how many fighters would kill to have Mayweather Sr and Garcia coaching them

Breh Dominicans in boxing have brought me nothing but heartache

What you know about watching one of your favorite fighters(SOG) beat the shyt out of the nikka who taught you your footwork and how to throw punches properly

 

[mr. smoke weed]

How long has nonito been with garcia?? I think mikey's the best hes got right now. interesting he said rios has the best jab, i'd take mikeys every time

 

[patscorpio]

How long has nonito been with garcia?? I think mikey's the best hes got right now. interesting he said rios has the best jab, i'd take mikeys every time

ive said it too about rios jab plenty of times...when dude won that lightweight title he threw his boxing skills (and discipline) in the bushes over a short time to do what he does now....which is sad because it clearly took a toll on him

 

[Jesus Is Lord]

He mention my boy Joan

Quick Joan story, we were training at a boxing club I won't name in Queens, New York. Joan has a crew of kids that he was training (ages 7-12) so one of the kid's father came to early to pick him up, long story short the man was rude and yelling at Joan telling him to "HURRY UP!!!" Joan was quietly telling him to give him 5 more minutes with his son, please. Pops was causing a scene, they stopped the music, he hopped in the ring with Joan and his son and started screaming in his face REAL DISRESPECTFULLY. He took his son out of the ring and called Joan a "puta". The whole gym was like and I was like. Pops went on and on how he would kill Joan blah blah blah....Joan told him in his best english, "I fight ju in the ring now! I wear glubs you don't" Pops said, "suck my d***!!!" Anyway, they agreed to fight right then and there.....Joan let this dude punch him in his face at least 10 times on purpose like, when Joan didnt drop you literally saw pops go .....Joan punched pops with a uppercut and knocked him out cold on the ropes and made the guys son come back in the ring and finished the pads, TRUE DAMN STORY!!

@krackdagawd
@patscorpio
@Newzz
@TheNig



I'm fielding all questions.

 

[TheNig]

He mention my boy Joan

Quick Joan story, we were training at a boxing club I won't name in Queens, New York. Joan has a crew of kids that he was training (ages 7-12) so one of the kid's father came to early to pick him up, long story short the man was rude and yelling at Joan telling him to "HURRY UP!!!" Joan was quietly telling him to give him 5 more minutes with his son, please. Pops was causing a scene, they stopped the music, he hopped in the ring with Joan and his son and started screaming in his face REAL DISRESPECTFULLY. He took his son out of the ring and called Joan a "puta". The whole gym was like and I was like. Pops went on and on how he would kill Joan blah blah blah....Joan told him in his best english, "I fight ju in the ring now! I wear glubs you don't" Pops said, "suck my d***!!!" Anyway, they agreed to fight right then and there.....Joan let this dude punch him in his face at least 10 times on purpose like, when Joan didnt drop you literally saw pops go .....Joan punched pops with a uppercut and knocked him out cold on the ropes and made the guys son come back in the ring and finished the pads, TRUE DAMN STORY!!

@krackdagawd
@patscorpio
@Newzz
@TheNig



I'm fielding all questions.

Jesus Christ....

shyt reminds of some shyt I seen with Juan Diaz and some cac who was talking shyt to him.

Juan was just getting his feet wet in the game. He was a couple months off from giving Francisco Lorenzo that work and he was getting ready for another fight in November.

Some crazy ass cac was fukkin with him talking about he couldn't fight and that his defense was terrible. He challenged the cac to get in the ring and said if he hit him he'd give him a large sum of money.

Man... that cac was swinging for muhfukkin fences tryna hit Juan. He called Juan a bytch one too many times and when the cac threw this ridiculous haymaker, he went straight down the Middle and put him on his ass.

Cac never went back to the gym.

 

[TheNig]

Guzman just lost his discipline...all the god given talent in the world gone to absolute waste..the Dominican james toney..that khabib fight where he took his first L was sad man

 

[Newzz]

He mention my boy Joan

Quick Joan story, we were training at a boxing club I won't name in Queens, New York. Joan has a crew of kids that he was training (ages 7-12) so one of the kid's father came to early to pick him up, long story short the man was rude and yelling at Joan telling him to "HURRY UP!!!" Joan was quietly telling him to give him 5 more minutes with his son, please. Pops was causing a scene, they stopped the music, he hopped in the ring with Joan and his son and started screaming in his face REAL DISRESPECTFULLY. He took his son out of the ring and called Joan a "puta". The whole gym was like and I was like. Pops went on and on how he would kill Joan blah blah blah....Joan told him in his best english, "I fight ju in the ring now! I wear glubs you don't" Pops said, "suck my d***!!!" Anyway, they agreed to fight right then and there.....Joan let this dude punch him in his face at least 10 times on purpose like, when Joan didnt drop you literally saw pops go .....Joan punched pops with a uppercut and knocked him out cold on the ropes and made the guys son come back in the ring and finished the pads, TRUE DAMN STORY!!

@krackdagawd
@patscorpio
@Newzz
@TheNig



I'm fielding all questions.

I just imagine the lil kid got on his Kevin Hart steeze


Dad: Take out the trash Junior

Son: No, you take out the trash

Dad: Boy, if you dont get your ass out there and take that trash outside, Ima whoop yo motherfukking ass right now!

Son: You mean, you gonna whoop my ass like Coach Guzman did yours?

Dad: What the fuc...boy, why you bringing that up? You better not ever mention that again. To nobody. Not even yo Momma boy!

Son: Im gonna tell Coach Guzman on you if you dont take out that trash and Ima tell Momma that he knocked you out because you was talking trash at the gym

Dad (muttering to son): Ima take it out Is all the trash already in the can

 

[Mook]

You know how many fighters would kill to have Mayweather Sr and Garcia coaching them

Breh Dominicans in boxing have brought me nothing but heartache

What you know about watching one of your favorite fighters(SOG) beat the shyt out of the nikka who taught you your footwork and how to throw punches properly

lazy fakkits. That piece of shyt felix diaz too.

Win a gold medal and do nothing for 6 years brehs

 

[Jesus Is Lord]

Joan would spar with no head gear and a full stomach of rice and beans from the restaurant. He took on any loud mouth and never loss, dude is a beast for real.

 

[krackdagawd]

lazy fakkits. That piece of shyt felix diaz too.

Win a gold medal and do nothing for 6 years brehs

I seen that nikka in the city a few years back at Euro lounge looking with a SUPER BAD bytch

Joan would spar with no head gear and a full stomach of rice and beans from the restaurant. He took on any loud mouth and never loss, dude is a beast for real.

Wasted talent

He signed to Iron Mike prod last I checked.

 

[patscorpio]

didn't diaz almost come to losing a fight this year? his L is also coming...no reason why that nikka is so inactive over 6 years unless he caught a case

 

[Jesus Is Lord]

Wasted talent

He signed to Iron Mike prod last I checked.

They called him Mini Tyson anyway. Mos def a waste of talent!