Co-headliners at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, February 4, WBC middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and two-weight world champion Nonito Donaire take on respective challengers Marco Antonio Rubio and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr, the latter for the vacant WBO super bantamweight crown. Chavez Jr and Donaire are pictured below, going through their training regimes, during media days ahead of the elite event.
Donaire is preparing for what is another chapter in the bulging book of Filipino and Puerto Rican rivalries
Bazzal, with stop-watch in hand, meticulously clocks Nonito's times
Fighters at championship level require a coach who is not only a great trainer but also an effective cornerman and, in Robert Garcia, Donaire (27-1-0, 18ko) has both, as is evidenced by the 36-year-old’s calming influence during Donaire’s most recent fight – versus defence-minded Omar Narvaez – where Nonito was frustrated with the Argentine’s tactics. Garcia (above, watching Donaire pound the heavy bag) also brags Brandon Rios, Antonio Margarito and Kelly Pavlik in his academy stable in Oxnard, California.
Donaire, a pound-for-pound power puncher, hits the mitts
It is Donaire, though, who is the first to have a high-profile fight in 2012 and, if successful, The Filipino Flash will undoubtedly be Garcia’s biggest star. Robert is one part of a world-class coaching staff who work with Donaire as the Pinoy calls upon Mike Bazzel to aid his strength and conditioning (pictured above left, working the ropes with Nonito). Bazzel is currently tasked with overseeing Donaire’s weight transition from bantamweight to super bantamweight as the fighter makes his 122lb debut this weekend.
Chavez Sr (107-6-2, 86ko) passes on pearls of wisdom to The Legend Continues, his son, Chavez Jr (right)
Ariza (left) monitors Chavez Jr's progress. Julio has faced criticism over weight in the past but he is on point right now
No pain, no gain… Ariza's methods push his clients so fight night is less work
One of the most famous conditioners in combat sports, Alex Ariza (above and right) is strength coach to Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan and Chavez Jr (44-0-1, 31ko). Known for his attention-to-detail to supplementation, Ariza also goes against the grain when it comes to exercising, as demonstrated with his desire to see his athletes go through arduous balance drills (right), using free weights that build practical muscle rather than aesthetic muscle (below right) and striking a heavy bag with a baseball bat (below).
With the fight less than a week away, Chavez Jr is looking ready to go
Other members of Chavez Jr’s camp include head coach Freddie Roach, who owns the famous Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood and the fighter’s father, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr (pictured above, above the picture of Ariza and Chavez Jr), an all-time great and Mexico’s best prizefighting product. Against Rubio, Chavez Jr takes on a fellow Mexican in what is billed as his toughest opponent to date. Rubio has fists that can put a man to sleep and all five of his 2011 fights – including an upset win over David Lemieux – were won via stoppage.
Hadouken! Julio Cesar and Marco Antonio have a leg-buckling 77 knockouts between them
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