Memo molds a monster

We have been training harder than before

Strength and conditioning coach Memo Heredia is about halfway through the creation of a new beast that he will unleash in the ring on 14 August in Carson, California.

Work on that monster has gotten past the prototype stage and Heredia is upbeat that the finished product — John Riel Casimero — will be too much for the Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux to handle.

To fulfill that mission, Heredia has laid out a training program geared towards Rigondeaux’s downfall banking on two key points: Endurance and explosiveness.

So far, Casimero, the reigning World Boxing Organization bantamweight king, has been “responding well” to the drills during track training, according to the 45-year-old former discus thrower from Mexico.

“We have been training harder than before. This is our third camp together and this is a more complete camp,” he said.

To mess up Rigondeaux’s strategy, Casimero “has to be fast and explosive and has to have a lot of endurance.”

Based on what he has been seeing now in Los Angeles and even during the first stage of camp in Las Vegas, Casimero is right on track.

“He is in good weight and very motivated that he is now training with Sen. Manny (Pacquiao),” Heredia said.

Still, Heredia swears Rigondeaux remains a difficult fighter to beat given his experience and overall talent.

“He is a great and dangerous boxer. Rigondeaux tends to move a lot. You gotta be prepared for everything.”

In addition to the gym work with lead trainer Javier Capetillo and Nonoy Neri, Casimero likewise gets expert advice regarding diet and nutrition from Heredia, who makes sure the Leyte-bred banger eats right.

“Casimero is on a special diet and he is taking my supplements,” he said.

And just how special is the food?

“He is eating organic. All food has to be organic. USDA-approved meat,” he added.

It certainly looks like Heredia’s model is set for immediate release.