Ismael Salas: The Interview
In a career spanning over 40 years, veteran Cuban trainer Ismael Salas offers a unique insight into boxing like no other.
From developing young fighters into Olympic champions, as well as revitalising the careers of some of boxing’s biggest names, Ismael Salas has scaled the heights of both amateur and professional boxing - a rare feat that speaks volumes about the success of his coaching philosophy.
Starting out as a trainer in the Guantanamo province of Cuba, Salas went on to become the head coach of the Cuban national team in 1983. After leaving the island six years later he taught boxing in Pakistan, North Korea and Thailand, with his work in the latter winning him the WBA ‘Trainer of the Year’ award in 1996 after producing a number of world champions. In 2008, Salas settled in the U.S. and has worked with the likes of Jorge Linares, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Nonito Donaire. He currently trains a number of up-and-coming fighters, including two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramírez and highly-touted Puerto-Rican Felix Verdejo, out of the Salas Boxing Academy in Las Vegas.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Ismael for not only managing to make time for this interview in his busy schedule, but for also being so honest and open throughout. In my experience trainers have kept their cards close to their chest before, so Ismael’s candidness was not only refreshing to see but also led to a more interesting and informative discussion.
On how his coaching career started:
“After a brief amateur career, I started as a coach in Cuba in 1977. At that time there were 6 provinces (states). I was from Oriente Province (which would be split into a further five provinces, including Guantánamo, shortly after), so I started working in the city of Santiago de Cuba with many great coaches such as Che Maria, Enrique Steyners and many others who taught me the art of educating a fighter. In 1983, I was appointed as the head coach of the Cuban national team, and I worked with a number of fighters including 2-time Olympic champion Ángel Herrera, Jose Aguilar, Jesús Sollet, Felix Savón, Joel Casamayor and Rogelio Marcelo amongst others. “
On the reasons behind the success of Cuban boxing, and the island’s recent struggles:
“There are a number of reasons - the scientific approach we took to amateur boxing, as well as the consistently high level of coaching, were key. Educating a boxer was respected as a craft, and methods were shared and passed down.”
(I mentioned that another former coach on the Cuban national team, Pedro Diaz, attributed Cuba’s decline to the retirement of legendary technical director Alcides Sagarra in 2001)
“Pedro Díaz is wrong. His time in the team was very short and he was also assigned there because he was studying his doctorate. The truth is that boxing continues to evolve. Sagarra was our teacher and his merits speak for themselves, but the real key behind Cuba’s success was the quality of the coaches at the provincial level who developed the best talents themselves. Díaz never coached anyone at the provincial level in Cuba, so he doesn’t know what it’s like to nurture a fighter from the ground up. Whilst Sagarra was extremely important and acted as the torch, you cannot be one-man. Success was the result of many good coaches, who are unfortunately often forgotten.
Rolando Acebal took charge of the national team after Beijing 2008 and has been reaping many medals for Cuba, including the likes of Robeisy Ramírez and La Cruz. Acebal, Raul Fernandez, Julio Mena, Enrique Steyner… they know how to carry the troops forward.”
On an increasing number of Cuban amateur stars turning professional, and the reasons behind some of their struggles in the pro ranks:
“It is because in Cuba, the economy and the system is collapsing. The people and athletes are learning about the reality of the regime. I was part of the old generation - it was more love and fidelity. But times change, and the system in Cuba does not. China and Russia were able to transform their systems and remain socialist, whilst Cuba’s version has expired.
Because the government has the mentality of wanting to receive everything in exchange for nothing, this has trickled down to the athletes when they arrive here. Many of them are entitled, lazy, and struggle to adapt. Those are the burdens of a government that does not work.”
On how to overcome that mentality and motivate them as a coach:
"Well, I had to go through that process in 1992, when I decided not to return to Cuba and had to depend on myself. The first advice I received at the time served me for the rest of my life; it was that if you work hard, strive to improve yourself and adapt to the system where you live, you have the right to succeed. Because of this, I was able to make the transition and triumph in professional boxing worldwide.
Erislandy Lara was able to do it, as was (Yordenis) Ugas. A few others, too. As far as I’m concerned, every Cuban who comes to my gym can understand what capitalism is and its value from their own experiences.”
On working in Asia:
“Let’s start with Thailand. The thing about Thailand was that it was very different - the fighters I started with were pure Muay Thai fighters, so I focussed on their transition to ‘international boxing’ as they call it. Despite being dedicated to professional boxers, they sent many of the fighters I trained to the national team and they came out as Olympic medallists. I was only directly coaching the amateur team at the request of the Thai Boxing Federation to help them prepare for the 2003 AIBA World Championship in Bangkok where, for the first time, Thailand won three medals including gold, silver and bronze. One of my fighters, Somjit Jongjohor, beat Yuriorkis Gamboa en route to gold and later won Olympic gold in 2008. The bronze medallist, Manus Boonjumnong, would go on to take gold in Athens at the 2004 Olympics the next year.
I worked in North Korea for the Olympics in 1988. As the Olympics were held in South Korea, we didn’t participate because of the blockade, but two of my fighters beat Felix Savón and Rogelio Marcelo in other tournaments. I also worked with Pakistan for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.”
On the Cuban style in amateur boxing, and how it translates to the pro’s:
"The Cuban boxing style is based on very rhythmic movements, which takes the strength away from their punches. This makes them somewhat boring in the professional ranks due to the defensive mentality without risk. I had the opportunity to try and change Rigondeaux and Gamboa, but in the end they went back to their old tricks.”
(I asked whether they lack the drive to adapt, or are too set in their ways)
“I think that other generations will improve but it is a hard process, and only those who are capable of making sacrifices can complete the transition. We have the case of Ugas, which is quite a show! But I have confidence that there will be other generations who can adapt more successfully - everything is evolutionary, not static.”
On what areas he focusses on in training, particularly when attempting to reverse-engineer a typical Cuban boxer’s style:
“Conscious discipline. In Cuba it is an authoritative discipline, here it is conscious discipline. I have created my own training system, and although I do not think it is the best, it has given me many results since I have produced champions in five continents through my coaching. Fighters that big-name coaches do not want, I have made them shine. Linares came to me from Freddie Roach, and both Ugas and Verdejo both trained under different coaches before I took them on.
One thing I learned from Angelo Dundee is putting the weight of the body behind the punches, that is, using your body as an offensive weapon. This is something I emphasise with a lot of my fighters from Cuba, who often don’t put weight behind their punches because of the way they were taught in the amateurs. I adapt my philosophy to each fighter and their strengths though. Because my fighters are very globalised, I have to personalise the training a great deal. But the core philosophy is the same - attack, defence and counterpunching in boxing should be as one, mutually beneficial.”
On Jorge Linares’ career and his limitations:
“If you look at Linares’ record, all of his losses are by KO or TKO. What can be deduced from this is that he has poor volitional qualities and a lack of confidence to solve situations with high risk. The Lomachenko fight was a disaster, he went into the fight without me in his corner despite the fact that I had helped him achieve so many victories. I think Linares is one of the very few who have the tools to beat Lomachenko, but that can only be done with a corner that he respects.
On Linares’ fight with Lomachenko, and the impact his presence would’ve made:
“Linares did not want to make sacrifices at the moment he needed me the most - it was me who took him out of the anchor and made him shine. In the most important fight of his life, he didn’t want to make a sacrifice. If he had won, he’d have been a millionaire and would have had a legacy for life. I think that life is all about decisions, and we are where we are today because of what we decided yesterday.”
(I questioned why he wasn’t in Linares’ corner for the Lomachenko fight, and was instead working with David Haye)
“He was in London for two previous fights with me, against Luke Campbell and Mercito Gesta. But for Lomachenko, he did not want to fight in London and I could not enter the USA so he was forced to train with people who were not as experienced. He instead worked with his brother and Jorge Capetillo, who are not coaches.
If I was in the corner for that fight, I would’ve emphasised working at the same angles I taught him as well as using other types of defence rather than just the high guard. Lomachenko was able to draw the high guard which eventually led to the KO - an uppercut to the body - which he wasn't prepared for. Loma set a trap for him which he fell for due to the lack of an experienced corner who failed to anticipate that. Linares needed to punch more with Lomachenko too, in order to take advantage of his natural speed. Anyway, it is in the past now.”
On how a potential fight between Linares and Mikey Garcia would have played out:
“I think it would have been a great fight. Linares is an experienced fighter, it would have come down to who has the best game-plan. Linares’ movement and speed could cause him issues, and Garcia does not force a high-pace which would benefit Linares. His power could be problematic however. It is good when you have someone standing in front of you, but everything changes when you fight someone who knows how to control the ring with durability.”
On working with Felix Verdejo, and what areas he’s been looking to improve:
“Well it’s just like the continuation of Linares (he bursts into laughter). Verdejo came with many biomechanics posture issues that made him lose explosion in his punches, which weren’t helped by injuries. We’ve been working hard though and there’s been great progress already. Fixing the posture will be key to reaching his potential. My training system is based on biomechanics - everything starts from the feet, maximising efficient energy transfer in the kinematic chains. Verdejo is only 27 years-old and most importantly, he’s highly motivated, so I think he has a very bright future ahead of him.”
On his brief stint as Guillermo Rigondeaux’s coach:
“With Rigondeaux it was a month or so of feeling, in order to see whether our visions aligned. One of the issues was that he was very assured in the way he fought, and never wanted to adapt outside of that comfort zone.”
(I noted how Rigondeaux looked lost for ideas when Lomachenko was able to take away his primary game)
“Exactly. I have great respect and admiration for him - he had talent from another galaxy and it’s painful to see how he’s failed to dazzle in the professional ranks. He has a Cuban style in every way. Rigondeaux himself was not the problem, but the one’s around him who didn’t agree with my human principles. I made him a champion and gave him to Jorge Rubio.
I didn’t like Rigondeaux’s last few performances (against Ceja and Solis, where he changed his style and exchanged at range more in what was likely an attempt to be more fan-friendly) and I told him since I love him so much. He is a great human being.”
On his favourite fighters in the sport’s history, as well as who he currently thinks is the best in the world:
“My favourites are Sugar Ray Robinson, Salvador Sánchez and (Jose) Mantequilla Nápoles. For amateur boxing, I have always loved Teófilo Stevenson. I think he is the greatest amateur boxer of all time.’
(I asked him to weigh in on the debate as to who was greater - Stevenson or Savón?)
“Do not forget that Savón’s beginnings were with me and I will tell you that there has been no one with more heart to ever step in that ring, but Stevenson was a perfect blend of exquisite technique with a huge punch. I have trained fighters who have beaten both, but for me Stevenson was truly special. Another special fighter was Roberto Balado, I knew him from a very young age as he had to fight three fighters from Guantánamo.”
On the highlight of his career so far:
“I would say that I have two moments which I consider my greatest achievements - one was when I took the Guantánamo team to win the Cuban championships in three different weight categories. The other was when I was awarded the 1996 WBA Coach of the Year. The rest is a continuous development and whilst God gives me strength, I will continue to make champions. I was born for that.”