Friday, March 29, 2024  |

News

Reynoso-trained Argumedo set to defend 105-pound title

Fighters Network
09
Nov

If you trained one of the biggest attractions in boxing, would you bother working with anyone else? If you’re being honest, the answer is probably no.

Few trainers will admit it but if they were taking in a percentage of the monster pay days that Canelo Alvarez commands, they would be very choosy about the other fighters they find time to train (if anyone else at all).

Not Eddy Reynoso, the 40-year-old head trainer of the Mexican superstar, whose personal motto is “No Boxing, No Life.” Along with his father, Chepo Reynoso, he continues to train boxers at every level of the sport – amateur, pro prospect, contender and world titleholder.

renoso-and-argumedo_ringtvThe most recent fighter to reach the world-class level in Reynoso’s stable is Jose Argumedo, a 28-year-old Nayarit, Mexico native who upset respected Japanese veteran Katsunari Takayama last December to earn the IBF 105-pound title.



Alvarez defeated future hall of famer Miguel Cotto to earn THE RING magazine and WBC middleweight titles in a huge pay-per-view event in Las Vegas one month prior to Argumedo (18-3-1, 10 knockouts) traveling to Osaka, Japan, to score his upset. However, Reynoso may have been more proud and excited for his unheralded strawweight than he was for Alvarez.

“It felt great to see Jose score the biggest upset on Japanese soil in the last 10 years,” Reynoso told RingTV.com. “I love boxing. I love being part of the preparation that a fighter has to go through to be able to do what they do, and it doesn’t matter to me what level the fighter is on.

“I enjoy the big events but I have the same love for fighters who are still fighting in four- and six-rounders. An unknown prelim fighter means just as much to me as a world-famous champion. I just love the sport.”

Reynoso’s love for boxing goes beyond the gyms and working the corners. He’s recently become involved in the promotional side of boxing in Mexico, where he hopes to help put on shows that keep his fighters busy while gaining valuable exposure.

On Saturday, Argumedo will make the second defense of his title against the IBF’s No. 1 contender Jose Antonio Jimenez in Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The title bout and two undercard fights will be streamed live on RingTV.com in the U.S. and Mexico.

Jimenez (17-5-1, 7 KOs), a 33-year-old boxer from Colombia, traveled to China in May where he outpointed local hero Chao Zhong Xiong to earn a mandatory shot at Argumedo.

“He’s a very dangerous opponent who comes with a lot of experience,” Reynoso said of Jimenez. “It’s going to be a good fight. Argumedo is an aggressive boxer, the stronger boxer, but Jimenez is a technical boxer that comes forward.”

Reynoso, who has trained Argumedo since his amateur days, is confident in his fighter.

“I knew Jose had the potential to one day win a world title because he had discipline, even as an amateur,” he said. “I expected him to at least challenge for a world title. Now I believe he will hold onto the title he has.”

If Argumedo beats Jimenez, Reynoso says a rematch with Takayama, who now holds the WBO 105-pound title, is on the menu for 2017. The strawweight unification bout would likely take place in Japan and significant money (for the 105-pound division) would be on the line.

“It’s very important to win this fight (on Saturday),” he said. “We already have offers from Japan to fight Takayama in a rematch.”

Reynoso has a soft spot for the “little guys” – figuratively and literally speaking – in boxing. He’s married to a woman whose father – Efren Torres – was the former WBC flyweight champion (from 1969-’70). They have two daughters, but among his “children” are his fighters. He is currently training 10, many who are still amateurs.

“I work with fighters from the very beginning,” Reynoso said. “That’s our formula for success.”

It’s also the formula to his passion for the sport.

SIGN UP TO GET RING NEWS ALERTS