I never knew much about him before he started working with cotto but he seems like a really good legit trainer. How do you rate him against some of the other big name trainers out there today like Roach, Nacho or Garcia?
Pedro Diaz was the figure head of the Cuban Boxing team. Honestly, the best Boxing team that I have ever seen, (closesly followed by the current Ukranian team) I think he's the best trainer in the world. Now in the pro game, Manny Steward sits top in terms of resume, with Roach and Berestain behind. I see Pedro Diaz as the most technically sound of all of these. (Followed by Berestain) Diaz is a tactical genius and demands hard work from everyone he trains. It's non negotiable. You do it the Diaz way because it gets results. Cotto will be working harder than he ever has, he won't like it; but he'll do it. As mentioned, he's a master stratergist. I train kids and I'm hoping to start showing older people how to Box, and I pay the most attention to Diaz. Like I said I've been following him since he trained the Cubans. Now he's in the USA, expect him to over take Garcia as the trainer that most Spanish speaking fighters want to train under.
Given his history with the cuban national team there is no questioning his credentials. Im starting to really like this guy, it might be early to say but he might be the best trainer out there right now.
Couldn't have said it better myself but I don't think that he was the " head " Coach of the Cuban team, maybe the second or third in command.
True but let's not forget the " other Cuban " trainer Ismael Salas. Salas was also from the Cuban National Team and is also very good as a pro. He was Gamboa's trainer and now Rigondeaux's ...
Come May 5th, he will get more respect... win, lose or draw. Diaz is one of Cotto's best win. That's why I see May 5th so exciting. His career has exceeded tremendously since his losses. Emmanuel was great for Cotto, but you see the growth in the career of a fighter, when he's willing to let go of the "best" ( in everyone's eyes ) and are willing to do the BEST thing that works for his career! That's what Miguel did, that's what brings real results. You have to respect that, and see it in that light.
His style doesn't suite everybody , he works fine with cotto because cotto is very well technical schooled,the Cuban school is based in speed,counterpunching and footwork, I don't see Diaz doing any good around Rios,Lopez or pavlik( to give different nationalities names).The other thing that Diaz brings( and have been one of Cottos biggest improvement ) its conditioning .Diaz team is focused in a scientific approach to maximum conditioning and that makes a big difference in an already elite boxer.Expect good things from Cotto coming this Saturday .
He was Headcoach of the Cuban Youth Amateur Boxing Team for about 8 years before being promoted to Team Cuba in the late nineties , he was 4th after 1-) Sagarra ( who was about to retire after Sidney , 2-) Sarvelio Fuentes ( who took over after Sagarra ) , 3-) Julio Gonzales , 4-) Pedro Diaz . As I said Sidney 2000 was his first big tournament , there's footage of him working the corner with Sagarra in the fight of Savon vs Bennet I think , he looks real young but you can see that Sagarra was his " Padrino " in a way , more than Sarvelio he looked like Sagarra's no 2 . Sagarra must have recognized his talent because few trainers go into La Finca at such a young age , I mean he looked like 27-28 years old , he was defenetly in his late 20's . From there he progresed really fast until taking comand of the Team after Sarvelio left to teach in Argentina ( not for long , he defected soon afterwards ) . Peace .
•Ph.D. in Pedagogical Sciences •President of the AIBA in Scientific Commission for America •Ex-professor in University Sports in Cuba •Made different studies in theory and methodology in the training process of high performance athletes
