Darryl Hudson on “El Perro’s” Comeback
Exactly one year ago today the boxing world was shocked when Alfredo Angulo suffered a devastating TKO loss to James Kirkland on November 5 in Cancun.
After that defeat, the hard hitter known as “El Perro” has traveled a very rocky road, to say the least. After spending months in a detention center due to immigration issues, the junior middleweight is now back in the U.S., reunited with his young daughter Rebeca, and under the tutelage of a new trainer in Virgil Hunter.
Angulo (20-2, 17 KOs) may be turning the page in a new chapter in his life but there is one member of his previous camps that remains in “Perro’s” corner.
Meet Darryl Hudson, a strength and conditioning coach who has worked with many top athletes through the years. He has worked with Angulo, Chris Arreola, Winky Wright, and many others.
The former football player has been training Alfredo as the Mexican warrior takes on challenger Raul Casarez (19-2, 9 KOs) THIS Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Angulo-Casarez bout will be the co-main along with the Abner Mares-Anselmo Moreno battle promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and airing live on Showtime.
At the kickoff press conference to announce this weekend’s card, I caught up with trainer Hudson to hear all the plans leading up to Angulo’s return to the ring. And Hunter and Hudson’s work with Alfredo will be displayed at today’s media workout at MacArthur Park. Team Perro trained in L.A. at the Westside Boxing Club and also at Hunter’s Northern California gym.
All eyes will be on the contender who hopes to make a statement in this highly-anticipated comeback for “El Perro’s” legion of loyal fans. Letting his hair grow long and sporting a full beard, Alfredo wants to prove his punching power and fierce bark are still there. And Hunter and Hudson are part of the crew that will be training the prizefighter this time around.
Check out the video interview with Angulo’s strength coach who chats about what to expect in working with Virgil Hunter for the very first time, what is was like visiting the boxer who was detained in El Centro, and how the team will bounce back from the Kirkland loss with trainer Nacho Beristain.
Darryl Hudson has been an invaluable team member in many champions’ corners and the Rancho Cucamonga trainer also works out of the Academy of Speed. Henry Ramirez, trainer of heavyweight Chris Arreola, knows firsthand of Darryl’s work. “He’s a great guy,” Ramirez says. “Darryl is cool and we enjoy working with him.”
The busy strength and conditioning coach has been a frequent flier lately while the camp went to and from gyms.
While going back and forth from Los Angeles to NorCal, Darryl says Angulo will have a great stable to train alongside with Andre Ward, Brandon Gonzales, Fernando Guerrero, Karim Mayfield, Amir Khan, Stan Martyniouk and more.
“I think this is a great experience for Alfredo to experience,” Darryl says. “It’s unusual for a fighter to be involved in top tier sparring like this.”
And there will be that extra motivation for Angulo to be victorious come Saturday night. The Mexicali slugger has his freedom once again and now he wants to reclaim his place in the boxing ring.
“Alfredo doesn’t EVER want to lose again,” Darryl states.
The team knows Saturday is the first step in getting Angulo, a former WBC and WBO champion, back to where he was.
Hudson believes there’s still a champ lurking within. His specialty is kinesiology and the SoCal coach says he sometimes uses “crazy tactics” in the different way he trains athletes, breaking down their strengths and weaknesses. His disciples in the sweet science are fans of his work; the boxing world will now witness the fruits of his labor in the contender’s comeback on Saturday night.
Hunter and Hudson hope to rebuild the heavy hitter back to championship caliber and a chance for future shots at a title.
After all the trials and tribulations that Alfredo Angulo has suffered during the last 12 months, I asked Darryl what he sees in this current “El Perro.”
“I see a CHAMPION–champions are made of what he just went through after being incarcerated,” Hudson tells me. “That was a fight within a fight right there! He’s very strong and has persevered through a lot.”
On the comeback trail, watch Team Angulo go for the victory.
Darryl Hudson Interview Link:
Photos by Michele Chong
Our 14th show for Master Boxers “Old Dog Boxing” is December 7th, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Costa Mesa, CA.
We invite you all to come out, watch and cheer on guys in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and yes even 60’s as they take center stage and compete in our Charity Boxing match. Proceeds help benefit the Walking Tall Foundation scholarship program for Martial Arts and Boxing. For more information contact Gina at 714-545-5759.
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