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Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
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Tom, Tony and Rich spend this week’s show catching up on the week’s major news in combat sports. We also preview upcoming fights in boxing and MMA. We highlight Mark Hunt’s recent lawsuit over a fight where Brock Lesnar tested positive for PEDs and discuss Ben Rothwell’s assessment of Travis Browne as a “Man Whore.” Listen to the hour long broadcast below.
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MIAMI (October 26, 2016) — Internationally renowned boxing trainer Orlando Cuellar has come full circle, right back to the famed 5th St. 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, Cuba, Cuellar’s family resettled in Miami when he was three with Orlando living there through high school. As an amateur boxer, Cuellar vividly remembers watching boxers at 5th St. Gym such as Cassius Clay, Willie Pastrano, Vinnie Curto and Florentino Fernandez, as well as legendary trainers, brothers Angelo and Chris Dundee.
“I watched and learned, picking up as much as much as I could,” Cuellar said. “Now, I find myself working out of the 5th St. Gym for the past six weeks. It’s been an incredible experience. Every day, 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 years. From the days dating back to Muhammad Ali, 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.
“(Owner) Dino Spencer is carrying on the 5th St. 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.
“5th St. Gym trainer Guy 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 5th St. Gym. He said, ‘Let’s do it.’ The success of the 5th St. 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 and, 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. A year later, he shifted his base Brooklyn and started training fighters out of another boxing icon, Gleason’s Gym. In 2000, he resettled in Miami.
Best known as world light heavyweight champion the head trainer of Glen Johnson, Cuellar also worked with future champions such as Nicolas Walters, Rances Barthelemy and Erslandy Lara, as well as Luis Franco, Aaron Davis and Juan Carlos Gomez, to name a few of the more notables. Today, he’s the chief second for several top fighters including Antonio Tarver.
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 rounds, new school is about throwing more punches, more foot movement and fighting from the outside. I teach doffense: defense + offense. 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 5th St. 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.
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Prospect Developmental Series Celebrates 15 Years With A Four-Fight Telecast This Friday, July 22, Live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT)
Take A Look At The History Behind ShoBox:
NEW YORK (July 19, 2016) – Acclaimed SHOWTIME Sports®prospect developmental series ShoBox: The New Generationcelebrates its 15th anniversary this Friday, July 22 with a quintessential four-fight telecast, live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Since its inception in 2001, ShoBox: The New Generation has been dedicated to promoting competitive fights pitting promising boxers in the toughest fights of their career. ShoBox has carved out its identity by matching top talent against each other.
“This is certainly an accomplishment for the series, but we wouldn’t be here for 15 years without the fighters,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of ShoBox: The New Generation. “The credit should go to the young men who are willing to step up and take risks early in their career.
“As we’ve seen over the last 15 years, matching fighters tough at a young age escalates their career development, and we’re thrilled to provide the platform to introduce viewers to these talented fighters. I’d also like to thank the promoters, managers and trainers who are willing to test their fighters at an early stage. Working together with a diverse roster of promotional companies is vital for the advancement of the sport as we aim to find tomorrow’s stars today.”
After 15 years and 67 future world champions, below are some remarkable ShoBox facts and figures:
Undefeated top 10-ranked super bantamweight Adam “Mantequilla” Lopez (15-0, 7 KOs) faces Roman Ruben Reynoso (18-1-1, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event. In an eight-round co-feature, Jerry Odom (13-2-1, 12 KOs) faces Julius Jackson (19-1, 15 KOs) in a matchup of super middleweights. Two eight-rounders will round out the four-fight telecast: O’Shaquie Foster (10-1, 7 KOs) meets Rolando Chinea (12-1-1, 6 KOs) in a lightweight scrap and undefeated Khiary Gray-Pitts (13-0, 10 KOs), of Worcester, Mass., will be opposed by once-beaten Ian Green (9-1, 7 KOs) in the super welterweight opener.
Tickets for the GH3 Promotions event from Foxwoods Resort Casino are priced at $45, $75 and $150 and can be purchased by phone from the Foxwoods Resort Casino at 800.200.2882 or online at www.foxwoods.com.
Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez will serve as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.