Predicting a KO by the “Venezuelan Sensation”
When Edwin Valero was crowned the WBC lightweight champion in April of last year, his trainer Robert Alcazar carried him triumphantly on his sturdy shoulders as they celebrated around the ring.
This Saturday, as the Venezuelan slugger (26-0, 26 KOs) squares off against Antonio DeMarco (23-1-1, 17 KOs) in Monterrey, Mexico, his coach will once again be cheering for him–but this time he’ll be watching on TV from his Southern California home.
And while the veteran Alcazar, whom Valero calls “The Professor,” may not be in his corner for this fight, he is still predicting another bold finish from the Venezuelan phenom.
Will it be “bombs away” again from the exciting superstar hailing from South America?
“Yes, he should knock him out quickly–within three rounds!” his former coach told me, in an exclusive chat last night. I wanted to catch up with the trainer on the eve of the big matchup (airing tomorrow night on Showtime 9 p.m. ET/PT).
I first met Robert a few months ago while visiting friends at a Riverside gym. As the boxing world is abuzz over this weekend’s southpaw showdown, I was curious what Valero’s ex-trainer thought as the fight looms.
It has been reported that Valero, 28, will again have Mario Morales as his chief second in his corner. I asked Alcazar why he’s not currently working with the lightweight, whose career has been saddled by well-documented visa issues barring him from working in the U.S.
“He decided to work with Venezuelan trainers this time,” explains Alcazar. “So for this coming fight, he’s having them work it again.”
In our initial meeting last fall, the coach was getting ready to leave for training camp over in Venezuela. Back then, the team was preparing for a fight against Joel Casamayor. But that fell through due to Valero’s visa problems. “We won the title, then he was supposed to fight Casamayor. So I went over there for the first stage of training in Venezuela,” the affable trainer remembers. “Then we were going to come to the States…but I ended up getting back here with just myself.
“They declined his visa. So he decided to train in Venezuela.”
In his most recent fights, the unbeaten knockout king dispatched of Antonio Pitalua in the second round of a 
scheduled twelve rounder in Houston, Texas. Then Valero fought again last December, with that fight taking place in his native country. People love to watch him as he comes out on fire with his guns blazing, a wild-eyed expression aimed at his opponents with the majority not ever making it to round two.
Alcazar, who’s best known as an early trainer of Oscar De La Hoya, says he’s still on very good terms with Team Valero and Bob Arum and enjoyed working with the boxer last year. “I trained him for the Pitalua fight and he won the title; I went to Venezuela to train him for the Casamayor fight,” he reiterates. “And I hope to work with him again! But who knows? We’ll see after this fight.”
Does Alcazar feel that his former pupil will be able to fight in the U.S. again?
“Yes! Hopefully he will. I think he will be able to. I really hope so.”
During their previous training, Valero and Alcazar made a Costa Mesa gym their home base. His coach raves about the power puncher’s winning streak–and string of knockouts. “He had 18 KOs in the first round right away,” states Robert. “God gives this kid the talent. He’s got natural strength; he’s so physically strong! Plus, I’ve never seen such a hard worker.”
And if his prediction is correct and he does indeed get past Tijuana’s DeMarco, a tough Los Mochis product and slick southpaw, what’s next, or rather who would Alcazar like to see as Valero’s future foe? Is it Pacquiao, the popular pick?
“When he wins, the doors will be wide open for him,” he tells me. “Whomever it is, I want to see him fight at the next level. Maybe Juan Manuel Marquez or Juan Diaz. Yes, Valero and Diaz from Texas, I’d love to see that fight!”
But first the Venezuelan must beat DeMarco, 24, to keep his perfect record. No easy feat, Antonio’s camp says. I say sports fans, get ready! This weekend–one day before the Super Bowl–a “Super Bout” is surely on tap between these two talented warriors.
Again, Edwin’s one-time trainer is proclaiming a KO. “If I was working the corner,” says Alcazar, “then it would be a quick knockout!”
But the friendly and relaxed coach will not be there. He chuckles a bit, adding, “So I will watch him on TV!”
While he only got to work one actual fight with Edwin, Robert remains optimistic that he will be reunited with his prized student. He would relish the chance of working with him again and has absolutely no animosity toward Valero or his current trainer. “I read today, in a Ring article, that Valero said we might work together again in the future,” Alcazar relays. “So you never know!
“You’re the first one I’m talking to about this. But yes, I’d like to work with him again.”
The boxing trainer has kept a rather low profile in the past few years, since his time in the spotlight with the “Golden Boy.”
So what has he been doing lately, you might be asking?
Well, in these behind-the-scenes snapshots I took, you’ll see Alcazar back in the gym and mentoring both fighters and coaches in the game.
At our first meeting last fall, Robert was visiting the Arlanza Boxing Club. The club’s head trainer, Alex Espinosa, counts on Alcazar as a mentor.
“I know what it takes to be there so I enjoy helping out,” Robert comments. “It makes me feel good to share my knowledge.”
On this particular day, Alcazar, Espinosa, conditioning coach Ivan Bernal and Raymond Aguirre had gathered to check out a new prospect, 19-year-old Victor Sanchez. The athletic heavyweight is new to the sweet science but is learning fast. And apparently growing fast too. “Victor’s 6′ 6″ and 215…and still growing!” Espinosa told me at the time.
As the teen does jump ropes, does some mitt work and finishes off on the heavy bag, Alcazar observes the young boxer, giving him subtle advice and shadowboxing animatedly to further his points.
There’s also time for some comedy, as the down-to-earth trainer stands on a stool to give the towering kid some water.
Alex gives me an update since I last saw the teen heavyweight. “Victor sparred with a 380 pounder yesterday. He’s doing great!” his coach says proudly. “He will be fighting soon, this month sometime.”
Espinosa says his time with the experience trainer is invaluable. “I met Mr. Alcazar through cutman Chuck Bodak,” he explains. “My father taught me everything I know, but Robert has shown me a lot of new things too. He’s my mentor; he’s really opened my eyes to things.”
Alex’s father, Andy Suarez Sr., was also a trainer and his brother is a boxer. “My brother is Mark Suarez, whose last fight was against Kermit Cintron,” Espinosa adds.
The second-generation coach is relishing his time in the gym with Robert Alcazar, who visits whenever he can. Traveling from his San Gabriel Valley residence to the San Bernardino area, the trainer and Alex meet at a spacious Riverside gym in Bryant Park, which opened in the summer of 2008 and features state-of-the art equipment.
Alcazar has been mentoring Espinosa as he trains the strapping Sanchez and welterweight Travis Samuels, 20. “Things are going well,” Alex says. We’ve been having Travis spar with Dominic Salcido.”
“Robert comes here and keeps tabs on me,” Alex says with a laugh. “He’ll be coming here tomorrow. The fighters have transformed with the training I’ve learned from Robert, and the new style of boxing that’s more scientific.
“The style now isn’t so much just brawlers, it’s smart technicians. Boxing is an art, it’s throwing without getting hit. Robert shows me different tricks and styles of how to be very smart in the ring.”
Come Saturday night, the smart trainer Alcazar will be keeping an eye on the Valero-DeMarco fight to see just who the smarter boxer will be in this fight.
We’ll see if Valero’s “Professor” knows his student well.
Photos courtesy of Robert Alcazar and Michele Chong