19.08.04 – Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga has been training at the Alexis Arguello Gym in Managua for the past three weeks in preparation for his October 2 clash with three-time world champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad. All of his sessions have been open to the public.
For example, on Thursday, August 12, the gym is full. At least one thousand people are in attendance, many of which are sweating from the heat and at the same time surprised that the doors have been open for the training session. But of course they are happy to be there, shouting encouragement to the former welterweight king.
Trainer Rigoberto Girabaldi, considered the best trainer in Central America over the past decade, warms up Mayorga with various exercises to get the sweat started. Mayorga then goes to work on the heavy bag for at least forty-five minutes. Ricardo works hard and does not stop. Girabaldi frequently moves in shouting to correct errors and motivate. The crowd also begins to shout louder, everyone feeding off of the other until “El Matador” is on the verge of rage.
No one in attendance can remember a training session so intense. Arguello, considered the greatest boxer in the history of Nicaragua, workouts pale in comparison.
After boxing, Mayorga continues with more exercises, each more intense than the previous, and finally ends with abdominal work of which he completes at least 1000 repetitions.
Mayorga will soon move his camp to the United States, where six sparring partners will greet him and the next chapter of this training camp will begin.
Most Nicaraguans either love or hate Mayorga but they do all agree on one thing; no one wants to see him defeated by Tito Trinidad.
And after two hours of training, Mayorga exits the gym shouting, “Now Trinidad will know what it is to face a man. His next move after October 2 will be retirement.”
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