This Friday, San Bernardino’s Artemio Reyes (16-2, 12 KO’s) will trade leather with Corpus Christi’s John David Charles. Charles (7-5, 1 KO) is determined to stop Reyes in his tracks. Reyes, who has recently suffered a personal loss and a professional loss, is in the midst of trying to regain momentum in his boxing career. We caught up with welterweight “King Reyes” to discuss his training.
What do you know about your opponent?
I know that he is a southpaw and that he is the first lefty that I am facing as a professional. He just got kayoed by Macho Camacho Jr. on a fight way above his weight division. I also know that he lost to my stablemate Jhon Ortega but know that Charles is a rugged guy.
How is it training for a fighter with the opposite stance as yours?
I feel good training for a fight against a southpaw fighter. I feel it’s important to get used to facing one because there are a lot of lefties training at the gym and there are so many more out there on a professional level that I eventually will encounter.
What kind of work do you do at the gym?
We’re working on the footing. Keeping my left foot outside of his right foot. That will help me stay away from his left hand.
Do you have to put more time than usual at the gym since he is a different style fighter than you are used to?
I have been putting the same amount of time in at the gym as I normally do. In the morning, I work on my strength and conditioning from 9:00am-10:00am, in the evenings I box from 4:00pm-7:00pm.
Who have you been sparring with?
My sparring partners have been Fernando Rojas who trains out of Capital Punishment Gym and Kevin Salgado who is from Murrieta, California.
How did it feel to return to the ring after your father’s passing and your defeat to Alan Sanchez?
My return to the ring was last June against Enrique Gutierrez. I had lost my father in late March, a couple of weeks prior to my bout against Alan Sanchez, and I wanted to continue to fight because I knew that is what he would have wanted me to do. Although I lost that night, it put me in a mind set to continue with my career as a professional fighter. The loss was a minor set back and it has made me more determined. Losing my father was the most difficult thing that I had to go through but I only let if affect me in a positive way. I have closed that chapter and have begun a new one. I have to improve with every fight. Everything is a learning experience.
Final thoughts before your fight this Friday?
I know what to expect from John David Charles. I was there to watch how Jhon Ortega dominated him and I plan to do the same. I know that southpaws tend to have an advantage over orthodox fighters because that is what they mostly see in the gym when they train but that is not going to be the case for us this Friday night. Charles had better be ready to go the full eight rounds! Fight fans will get to see a great performance!
The Reyes-Charles match up will be preceded by an 8 round co-main event featuring El Monte’s slick southpaw Ricky Duenas (11-1, 5 KOs) against Texan Milton Ramos (7-3-2, 2 KOs). Duenas will put his punching power to use when he takes on the taller junior welterweight that is known to take his fights the complete distance.
