Julian Chua, a former skilled boxer turned coach, works out of Brickhouse Boxing in Los Angeles. Chua is greatest identified for working with Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, the 33-year-old Mexican fighter with a document of 47-1 (30 KOs). Ramirez, a former tremendous middleweight titleholder, has competed at gentle heavyweight beneath Chua’s watch earlier than shifting as much as cruiserweight, the place he lately unified titles with a win over Chris Billam-Smith.
On this Q&A, Chua displays on Ramirez’s growth, his loss to Dmitry Bivol, and his journey to changing into a unified champion at cruiserweight.
Q: What modifications have you ever made to Zurdo Ramirez’s fundamentals?
Chua: Zurdo all the time had abilities, however there have been areas we centered on bettering. Basically, he used to punch huge and didn’t totally make the most of his lengthy attain. High Rank had even talked about that he didn’t combat like a “lengthy, tall fighter.” We’ve labored on getting him extra balanced—he’s now not leaning over his entrance knee, and his punches are extra compact. He punches together with his knuckles now, as an alternative of his fingers, which brought on cuts earlier than. His energy has additionally improved; he had stopped each gentle heavyweight earlier than he fought Dmitry Bivol, one thing he wasn’t even doing at tremendous middleweight.
Q: How has power coaching performed a job in his growth?
Chua: He by no means actually lifted weights earlier than, and bodily, he wasn’t as robust. Chris Wong, our power coach, has performed an exceptional job. Now, Zurdo can match cruiserweights bodily. We’ve labored on grounding him so he can maintain his floor and push again towards opponents who count on to overpower him. This has additionally helped him mentally—many opponents are available considering he’s “small,” however once they understand they’ll’t push him again, it disrupts their recreation plan.
Q: What tactical enhancements has he made?
Chua: Zurdo’s positioning within the ring has improved considerably. He’s extra conscious of the place he’s and find out how to create efficient angles. As an illustration, he gained’t make massive pivots towards the ropes as a result of that can provide opponents an escape route. As a substitute, he focuses on sustaining management and attacking from advantageous positions. He’s additionally discovered to restrict lengthy combos early in fights and concentrate on breaking opponents down with three- or four-punch combos earlier than stepping round to create angles.
Q: How have you ever tailor-made his pure tendencies?
Chua: Zurdo naturally likes throwing lengthy combos, however he used to overcommit, staying within the pocket too lengthy. Now, he is aware of when to step round and reposition himself for follow-up assaults. For instance, he used to counter with liver pictures however left his head within the line of fireside. We’ve labored on getting his head off the centerline to make these counters safer.
Q: What’s your method to learning Zurdo’s fights?
Chua: I’ve watched each second of his fights, even earlier than we began working collectively. I research what he did effectively, what may have been higher, and which combos or counters he naturally favors. From there, I tailor drills to boost his strengths and reduce his weaknesses. I additionally present him particular examples from his fights to elucidate why changes are crucial, and he’s an distinctive scholar—he absorbs all the things shortly.
Q: What did you personally be taught from the Bivol combat?
Chua: For me, an enormous takeaway was seeing how Zurdo dealt with the state of affairs. Bivol is the highest-quality fighter Zurdo has ever confronted, and whereas Bivol gained, he didn’t bodily dominate Zurdo. That’s large. It’s nearly like Zurdo gained one other degree of confidence as a result of he realized he belongs up there with the highest guys. Bivol, who is taken into account a pound-for-pound fighter, didn’t batter him or something like that. Don’t get me fallacious—Bivol did effectively—however Zurdo held his personal and left the combat with that perception intact.
I additionally discovered that optics are an enormous a part of the combat. How a lot the commentating and the general public notion of what’s taking place can play an enormous issue. For instance, simply because a commentator says, “Why isn’t Zurdo combating in a Mexican fashion—shifting ahead?” it can provide the general public the notion that if he’s not shifting ahead, then he’s shedding.
Q: You talked about Bivol’s fashion. What’s your tackle him as a fighter?
Chua: Bivol is outstanding at what he does, however he’s not the kind to adapt mid-fight. He’s a grasp at his method, and he sticks to it. He’s not going to abruptly combat like Pernell Whitaker or Chavez Sr. He’s not about making dramatic changes. As a substitute, he excels at successful rounds with consistency and explosiveness.
Q: The rest you took away from that combat?
Chua: Completely. I discovered so much from that combat. I are likely to overanalyze—take accountability for all the things, even when it’s not solely on me. Was my voice proper? My tone? Did I miss one thing? That combat, Bivol vs. Zurdo, was my first loss as a head coach since I began in 2012, so it made me mirror deeply. Generally, although, you need to settle for that the opposite man is simply higher on the evening.
Q: What are your ideas on a possible combat with Jai Opetaia?
Chua: We’re on this sport to see who one of the best is, and I see issues Zurdo can do this Opetaia hasn’t handled earlier than. I consider the combat will occur in some unspecified time in the future. However for now, we’re doubtless going through our necessary, Yuniel Dorticos, subsequent. That’s no simple combat—he’s older, however the very last thing to go is a punch. As for Opetaia, he’s an unbelievable fighter—athletic, good, and is aware of find out how to use his distance. Nonetheless, I see holes in his recreation that Zurdo can exploit. When the time comes, I see Zurdo popping out on prime.
Q: Opetaia’s toughness and energy appear to be his biggest strengths, proper?
Chua: Right. And right here’s one other lesson I discovered from the Bivol combat: don’t base a recreation plan on assumptions with out proof. I had by no means seen Bivol look drained in a combat, but we banked on the concept that he’d fuel out within the later rounds so Zurdo may go for the knockout. That wasn’t good planning on my half, and I wouldn’t repeat that mistake towards somebody like Opetaia. He fought via a damaged jaw, so you recognize his toughness is actual.
However Zurdo is a throwback fighter—able to die in there if crucial. When this combat occurs, it’ll be one for the historical past books. Two of one of the best on this period, at this weight class, going head-to-head. It’ll be a legendary evening.
