By Derek Gionta: Boxing is filled with big names and behind-the-scenes contributors that make the sport what it is today. When looking at the most memorable events in the sports’ history, a great fighter is usually seen standing alone with their hand raised following a dramatic or dominant victory as the cameras flash upon them. A certain figure in the sport, one of whom not always looks to attract the spotlight and attention of a world champion boxer, digs through the trenches along with the fighters during their career when no one else is around: the trainers.
As 2015 comes to a close, the Secondsout.com writers have voted and would like to congratulate Abel Sanchez as the Trainer of the Year.
Sanchez has put together some remarkable results in his career. In the quiet city of Big Bear Lake, CA at The Summit Gym, a culture of winning was created in the gym he built from the ground up. Sanchez, a contractor by trade, has trained over a dozen world champions and sent longtime pupil Terry Norris to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In his most recent success, the esteemed trainer also hand crafted some of his best work with current middleweight kingpin, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.
The power-puncher from Kazakhstan sought out Sanchez to train him at the gym of high altitudes, and the two have had great success ever since. Slowly making his rise and building his name in the middleweight division, Triple G went on a knockout streak that has now reached 21 fights. Despite the lofty achievements of obtaining various middleweight titles, Golovkin remains humbled and well-guided in other aspects of the game.
Sanchez is quick to point out the defensive skills of Golovkin, and will put his numbers up against anyone when looking at punch stats and the minimal punishment the current Los Angeles resident has felt since the two began working together 17 fights ago.
Now a star among the boxing elite and fresh off of an HBO Pay-Per-View victory over David Lemieux, Golovkin’s best days as a fighter and money-maker are ahead of him.
Sanchez’ best days as a trainer may be within close distance as Golovkin seeks middleweight supremacy and continues to build on a 91% KO ratio and targeting names like Canelo Alvarez as a future opponent.
Once the trainer of light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in the early stages of his career, Sanchez has been a part of numerous world title fights and worked the corners of many names close to or at the pinnacle of the sport. Some other notable fighters trained by Sanchez this year: Denis Shafikov, Murat Gassiev, Nadjib Mohammedi (against Kovalev in a light heavyweight title fight).
A trainer’s work is not always seen by the outside viewers, media, and insiders, but the results are obvious that the time spent at the desolate city of Big Bear, California was well spent and productive. A number of other trainers have shown success worthy of this accolade, but the work done by Abel Sanchez in 2015 stood out as the best.
December 27, 2015
