Alfredo Angulo’s coach hosts concert in Long Beach
Boxing trainer Clemente Medina’s normal routine includes wrapping hands, lacing up gloves and holding the mitts for his many fighters out of the Maywood gym in Southern California. But recently the coach, best-recognized for his star pupil Alfredo “Perro” Angulo, took to the mike while hosting a concert in Long Beach. Billed as “El Duque de Sinaloa,” Medina belted out several songs in Spanish. Although a singer for years, live performances are something new for this veteran trainer.
“I’ve been a trainer for over 35 years,” he explains. “But I’ve been performing for only eight months!” He previously sang at another concert in August.
At Rosa’s in Long Beach, Medina was the main event at a show featuring several other talented singers in the area.
His friends from boxing came out to show their support, with boxers and trainers from the Maywood, Wild Card, Azteca, and Burbank boxing clubs in attendance. Clemente is also trainer to pro fighters Carlos Molina (who is fighting tomorrow on the undercard of the Israel Vazquez-Angel Priolo matchup) and Ruben Rivera and a stable of of amateur boxers and future stars including Clemente’s son, Emanuel Medina. He also works with youth boxing at the Glendale PAL gym.
Junior middleweight Angulo took a break from training to enjoy the tunes of his trainer. “Perro” says he’s working hard for his November 7 bout against Harry Joe Yorgey in Hartford, Connecticut. The emcee of the show tried to get Alfredo to sing a couple of notes, but the slugger just laughed and declined. He and another friend, female fighter Katarina De La Cruz had fun together when I had them pose as “”El Perro” y “El Gato” (The Dog and The Cat). The two couldn’t stop laughing as they tried to have a mock face-off. De La Cruz had a baby on August 21 but has already got her svelte figure back. Kat told me she’s heading back into the gym in within two weeks, “I can’t wait! I really want to fight. Now my son, Ole’ is training at Wild Card, so we’ll be able to work out together.”
Her baby, Rafa’ella, made a guest appearance at Clemente’s concert and may be a future champ in a couple of decades. The baby girl was wearing a “Million Dollar Baby” T-shirt and her proud mom tells me, “She weighs 11 1/2 pounds, but look at her muscles already!” De La Cruz then shows me the baby’s sturdy calves.
The young singing group Villa Kids were also in attendance. This group of five sisters and one brother span the ages of 12-19 and are already seasoned performers. Also at Medina’s fiesta was a group from Wild Card including photographer Miguel Salazar, trainers Lalo Castro and Gil “Candyman” Nieves, and family members of Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez.
Salazar is from Sinaloa, just like new singing sensation, Medina. “I’m from the small town of Los Mochis and Clemente’s from Culiácan.” He says that says that boxing and baseball are huge in his hometown that boasts four elite fighters. “Humberto Soto, Jorge Arce, Hugo Casarez, and Fernando Montiel are all from Los Mochis!” says Salazar, who works closely with trainer Freddie Roach.
With a round of applause for Medina’s performance, the good reviews continue. Welterweight Alfonso Gomez is away at training camp and missed Clemente’s latest performance. The boxer knows the world of music very well. He has his own record company, Little Men Big Heartz Records and is also a songwriter, rapper, and musician with the band Hy3rid. He said yesterday, “Clemente’s a good singer. I’ve done a few of his tracks in my studio, so I know his voice is great!” Gomez is currently in training for his upcoming fight against Jesus Soto Karass in the undercard of the November 14 
Pacquiao-Cotto matchup at the MGM Grand in Vegas.
Speaking with Clemente today, it’s back to business as usual for the boxing trainer. He was watching “Perro” spar and says that he’s looking good, “He throws so many punches and hits hard.” But Team Angulo is not underestimating his foe Harry Joe Yorgey. Medina says, “He’s undefeated, with just one draw. He’s a very good boxer.”
Any plans of heading back on stage as “El Duque” the singer soon?
“I’m too busy with Perro’s fight right now,” laughs Medina. “But I enjoy it and hope to sing again soon!”
Photos by Michele Chong