Robert Garcia, coach of one of the deepest stables in the last several years, is moving on to the next chapter in his career as a trainer, and this was exactly what he said in an Instagram post regarding his split with Brandon Rios, who announced his retirement following his November 7th loss to Timothy Bradley. However, Rios recanted his announcement and word quickly spread that he is already training for a fight later this year.
It will be interesting to see how Rios fairs or if there will be any noticeable changes in him as a fighter without the assistance of his long-time trainer.
However, the social media post spoke volumes and Garcia shared more than just his explanation for what is being considered an amicable split with Rios. Instead, Garcia is looking at things from a much deeper aspect.
Over the past several years, the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy has been home to some of the sport’s best and most entertaining fighters. Aside from Rios, who always seemed to be more like family to the Garcia’s, fighters such as Nonito Donaire and Marcos Maidana shared the Garcia gym and relied on Robert as a coach. All three names were mentioned specifically by Garcia in the Instagram post, claiming that chapter of the RGBA is finished and the next chapter will focus on the younger talent that currently occupies the gym.
That’s not to say that Robert is without marquee names in his gym as the post went on to mention Mikey Garcia (Robert’s younger brother), Josesito Lopez, Evgeny Gradovich, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Saul Rodriguez, Mike Perez, and a couple others as current fighters under the RGBA stable. Robert also alluded to other fighters that the boxing community will soon come to know under the RGBA stable, referring to all of these fighters as “the future of RGBA.”
Garcia has mentioned to Thaboxingvoice on several occasions that he is looking to expand his flag in the boxing world, and not just as a trainer. The Robert Garcia Boxing Academy has already expanded its brand by opening up a new gym in San Antonio, Texas, and the gym had its grand opening only a month ago even though it had been unofficially open for a month before the opening.
However, Garcia is also expanding his role with fighters, offering more than just his vast in-ring tutelage. Robert is managing a few young Texas standouts and word is he will be offering his assistance to other fighters down the road.
Rios, who is reportedly training under his father, is fighting with one foot out the door, Maidana is uncertain of his next move, and Donaire is in a rebuilding stage of his career, it is obvious that Robert is satisfied with his time with those fighters but ready to move on in a major way.
