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10/06/2005 Entry: "Boxing Trainer, Mike Garcia: Arlovski’s Going to Win!"
Boxing Trainer, Mike Garcia: Arlovski’s Going to Win!
Story and Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Mike Garcia (right) works the pads with Arlovski
UNCASVILLE, CT, October 6, 2005 – A day before the reckoning, the towering “most feared striker in the UFC”, Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski, is biding his time before he faces dangerous knockout artist Paul Buentello to defend his Interim Heavyweight Championship at the Mohegan Sun in UFC 55: The Fury.
Oddly, at 6’ 4” of powerful, chiseled and raw-boned musculature, this giant from Belarus has drawn a lot of strength and support from a 5’ 7” Chicago native nicknamed "Fly" who weighs 140 lbs. soaking wet.
However, this isn’t just any ordinary 140-pounder. A former, world rated contender as a super featherweight, Garcia went 26-0 and 18 KO’s before he retired due to recurring hand problems. Now, at age 39, Garcia is co-owner of JABB Boxing Gym in Chicago, Illinois and just happens to be Andrei’s boxing trainer.
Sparing a few moments the night before his charge’s championship, Mike Garcia graciously shared his thoughts on Arlovski’s preparations in an exclusive interview.
On how Andrei, at 8-3-0 (5 KO’s, 3 Submissions) is doing on the eve of his match versus Paul Buentello, who stands at 18-7-0 (11 KO’s, 7 Submissions):
MIKE GARCIA: He’s doing real good. He weighed in at 236 and his opponent’s at 251, but he’s in shape; he’s ready. He looks great.
On whether he's doing anything special for his last minute preparations:
MG: Naw, just basically the same thing: just having him do a lot of movement, side to side, keeping his hands up. This guy’s [Buentello] a real good puncher.
If it goes on the ground, I think there’ll be no problem; Andrei will take care of him on the ground.
But, always be cautious with the heavyweights. You know, you don’t want to get hit with nothing stupid. One punch can take care of that fight game!
On his regular routine leading up to the fight:
MG: Well, it depends. Andrei, in the morning, he goes and runs anywhere between three and five miles. And then about 12 o’clock in the afternoon, he comes by me and starts the boxing.
What we do is we warm up, jump rope for five minutes to stretch out, kind of, and then shadow boxing for about five rounds. From there, sometimes we hit the mitts for eight rounds, sometimes six.
Then, from there, we go to the heavy bag. Depending on how many rounds we do on the mitts: if it’s six rounds, he’ll go six on the upper bag; if it’s eight rounds, he’ll go maybe four rounds on the heavy bag, two rounds on the uppercut bag, then two rounds on the speed bag, and back on the [jumping] rope for 10 minutes.
And then, sometimes we do anywhere between 200 and 250 cross sit-ups.
And then in the evening, he practices Jiu Jitsu with his trainer, Dino Castillas; Dino’s at POW Gym.
JUAN AYLLON: And, of course, you do the boxing at JABB Gym?
MG: Right.
On who Andrei’s been sparring with lately:
MG: He’s been sparring with this kid, Carl Davis. He’s a heavyweight. Okay, Carl, I think, is nine and two, big puncher. The last day they sparred, they went seven rounds. So, I mean, Andrei’s been looking good and Andrei’s not a boxer, you know? He’s learning more and more about it. So, he’s holding his own with these guys.
He sparred with him, this other kid, Jeff—I forgot Jeff’s last name. He’s an amateur kid. He was helping me out with [former NBA basketball star-turned-professional boxer] Kendall Gill.
Yeah, he’s been going anywhere between six, seven rounds.
So, he’s ready, like I said. All we’ve got to do is make sure he keeps his hands up and fights his game. If he doesn’t get crazy, it should be an easy night for him.
Diaz (right) tries to take down Arlovksi
On Andrei’s pre-fight diet:
MG: Yeah, honestly, I really don’t know how he’s dieting. I just think he’s probably staying away from certain things like bread and sweets. He’s pretty much eating chicken, steak, you know. He’s working out so hard, I guess he can eat all that.
A couple weeks ago, he got down to 234, the lightest he’s ever been in years. But, because of the running, he’s really been stepping it up. And, he’s keeping up with me; I can do three miles in 20 minutes. We do a lot of sprints, just to get his heart rate get used to going up and down, up and down.
He’s a great person, like I said, very dedicated. I don’t care what you tell him to do, he’ll do it and some! So, I mean, he really takes this serious; he doesn’t take it for granted.
On having Andrei working out at JABB Boxing Gym:
MG: JABB’s just doing good. We’re happy to have Andrei hire us. He gets along with other fighters, talks to them all. You know, he’s a very likable person. Once you get to know him, it’s like you’ve known him forever.
Arlovski (left) downs Diaz
So, him and [junior welterweight contender] David Diaz always, constantly pull little pranks on each other—you know, wrestling, goofing around. He’ll jump in the ring with David. David challenges him and [bleep]. So, it’s cool.
Like I said before, they never knew each other until recently and it’s like they’ve known each other forever. You know, it’s like one big family, which is nice.
So, we’re happy to have him at JABB. He brings some color to the gym (laughing). He’s a very nice person.
On Andrei’s tactics of turning fighters and lateral movement against punchers like Cabbage, Buentello and others:
He does a lot of side-to-side movement, that’s all, just so he’s not standing in front of these guys.
On his prediction for Friday’s fight:
MG: I’d like to make a prediction that Andrei’s going to win, put it to you that way. Where ever, whether it’s a knockout, if it comes, it’s great, you know. But, to me, I think if it goes later in the fight—if it should happen to go two or three rounds—I think Andrei’s chances are even better.
I think this guy’s [Paul Buentello’s] only chance is to try to get Andrei early on. You know, he’s a big puncher, so you’ve got to be careful for that.
But, I believe if Andrei just stays away from that right hand, goes side to side and just fights his fight, taking his time, and when the opportunity comes, [he'll] just capitalize on it.
For other interviews and information on Andrei, see www.andreiarlovski.com
See also:
Official Site: www.arlovski.tv
Underground Fan Site: www.BewareofthePitbull.com
