The debut of Gabriel Maestre and Yoel Finol in the professional ranks has raised many expectations. The quality of the two Venezuelan fighters should be accompanied by the tutelage of a great coach, and Jorge Zerpa was chosen to train the pair of fighters on this new stage.
Maestre will face Jeovanis Barraza on the “Explosive Test” card on July 6th, at Sugar Baby Rojas, in Barranquilla, and Finol will also fight on the same billing of that evening.
Zerpa knows what he has under his command; two boxers with a lot of talent and the best that Venezuela has in the amateur field, according to his own words.
“Maestre and Finol are two boxers with huge talent. They are two of the best in the country and for me it is a great challenge to prepare them for their debut in the professional rankings,” said the coach who has been in the corner of 12 world title winners.
“We have done an excellent preparation where all things have gone as they should. We have corrected many things like foot coordination, technical details of them, among other aspects. Now it only remains that they do what they know how to do,” said the Venezuelan.
A debate has been created about how Gabriel Maestre will influence the debut of 10 rounders after a career in the amateurs in which he has only reached the five round maximum, but Zerpa said that in the ring is where we will see what he is capable of.
“It is true that amateur boxing is more about scoring points, but Maestre has worked hard and has the necessary style. He has faced several of the best in the world and has undoubted experience. In the end, it is about boxing and this is a unique sport. Our idea is not only to win, but to leave a pleasant impression and delight the public,” Zerpa continued.
On “Meke” Barraza, the coach said that debuting against an opponent who is undefeated in 20 matches, having knocked out 11 opponents, is a tough challenge but nothing that his pupil cannot overcome.
“We respect “Meke” a lot because he has proved to be a great fighter and he is very strong. I’ve seen some things about him and I know he cannot move around the ring like Maestre does; he depends a lot on his right hand and he’s static. We have focused on working so that the rival’s strengths are minimized and for Maestre to do what he knows how to do, in addition to putting into practice the new things that will surprise everyone,” he continued.
Zerpa has accompanied boxers of the likes of Jorge Linares, Celestino “Pelenchín” Caballero and Edwin Valero on their way to world titles. The trainer assumes the challenge of Finol and Maestre with great motivation and with desire to turn them into champions of the world in the professional rankings in the future.
