Marcos Maidana is set to face one of Mexico’s biggest boxing stars in Erik Morales. He has begun camp in Mexico City for the first time in his career but has also teamed with veteran trainer Rudy Perez, who knows a thing or two about defeating Erik Morales. Perez successfully trained Marco Antonio Barrera to beat Morales in two of their three epic battles. Maidana shares with some insider info on his progressing training camp which culminates April 9th in Las Vegas, NV on HBO PPV.
Camp Locations:Mexico City, Mexico (until March 15), Las Vegas, Nev. (March 16 to April 8)
“I am not training in Mexico to spite Morales in any way, I feel comfortable with the Mexican people. I feel accepted by them and if I knock Morales out like I know I can, it is my hope that the Mexican fans will adopt me as their own. I have been told many times that I have a Mexican fighting style and I hope to develop that more as I train in Mexico.”
Maidana is currently training in altitude (2,200 meters above sea level). He rises early (5:00 a.m.) and starts the day off with intense roadwork as he adapts to the high altitude. He then returns to his apartment to eat breakfast and rest. In the afternoon he heads to either the Boxeo de Gala gym or Pino Suárez gym for sparring, strength training and to work on his technique.
Maidana, who has trained in Las Vegas for several of his recent fights, will depart his new-found Mexican home and head to the familiarity of the desert on March 15 as his strength and conditioning coach, Cruz “Pensa” García, believes that five weeks is enough time for Maidana to spend training at high altitude.
“Working out in Mexico has been a great experience so far,” said Maidana. “But a combination of the altitude in Mexico City and the familiarity of Las Vegas is what I need to get the result I want in the ring on April 9.
