МАЙАМИ (Октября 26, 2016) — Internationally renowned boxing trainer Орландо Куэльяр has come full circle, right back to the famed 5^й Улица. Gym in South Beach, where he once visited as a teenager to learn and now trains fighters out of six days a week.

Born in Havana, Куба, Cuellar’s family resettled in Miami when he was three with Orlando living there through high school. Как боксер-любитель, Cuellar vividly remembers watching boxers at 5^й Улица. Gym such as Кассиус Клей, Вилли Пастрано, Vinnie Curto и Florentino Fernandez, as well as legendary trainers, братья Angelo и Крис Данди.

“I watched and learned, picking up as much as much as I could,” Куэльяр сказал. “Сейчас, I find myself working out of the 5^й Улица. Gym for the past six weeks. It’s been an incredible experience. Каждый день, you never know who is going to walk through the doors there. It’s been one of the best boxing gyms in the world for more than 50 годы. From the days dating back to Мухаммед Али, fighters have been attracted to this gym because of its rich history and great sparring, as well as to the area with South Beach’s restaurants, clubs and beach. The warm, humid weather also makes it easier for fighters to lose weight running and training.

“(владелец) Дино Спенсер is carrying on the 5^й Улица. Gym’s tradition. Everyday I’m there is exciting for me. Mixed ethnic groups train there and it’s a magnet for talent. There’s sparring three days a week – I call it Spar-a-rama – and everybody’s welcome to challenge themselves. The sparring is better than a lot of TV fights.

“5^й Улица. Gym trainer Гай Laieta had been trying to convince me to join the team for the last five years. I spoke to Dino on several occasions, expressing my desire to train fighters out of the 5^й Улица. Спортзал. Он сказал, ‘Let’s do it.’ The success of the 5^й Улица. Gym today has a lot to do with ownership. Dino has a passion for boxing and he is very hospitable, which trickles down to his staff and fighters. Good vibes all of the time!”

Cuellar left for Las Vegas in 1976 и, after he realized that being a boxer wasn’t in his best interest, he started training fighters there in 1981 out of Johnny Garcia’s Gym. Год спустя, he shifted his base Brooklyn and started training fighters out of another boxing icon, Тренажерный зал Глисона. В 2000, he resettled in Miami.

Best known as world light heavyweight champion the head trainer of Глен Джонсон, Cuellar also worked with future champions such as Nicolas Walters, Rances-Бартельми и Erslandy Lara, а также Луис Франко, Аарон Дэвис и Хуан Карлос Гомес, to name a few of the more notables. Сегодня, he’s the chief second for several top fighters including Антонио Тарвер.

Recognized throughout boxing as a superior teacher, Cuellar’s success is mostly attributed to his training of fighters on an individual basis, focusing on their personal needs rather than giving all fighters the same instructions and attention.

“Each fighter needs personal and specific work to complement their God-given talents,” Cuellar explained. “You can’t teach all fighters the same way. I specialize on what I call old school meets new school. Old school was upfront and personal to go 15 раундов, new school is about throwing more punches, more foot movement and fighting from the outside. I teach doffense: defense + преступление. Punches aren’t vitamins, none should be taken. Boxing is little more than a battle of reflexes; one fighters versus another, but the real trick is how the fighter uses his reflexes. I teach my fighters how to turn the ring apron into a minefield.”

Boxing has played a huge role in Cuellar’s life. Back in the 5^й Улица. Gym is just another chapter in his unique life.

“I live through my fighters,” Cuellar concluded. “Every victory is my proudest moment. There are no big or little victories, every win is a happy moment because of all the hard work and sacrifices me and my fighter made during training camp.”

Orlando Cuellar is thrilled to have gone back to the future.