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Rafael Liendo was Marcos René Maidana’s squire in his first period of splendor. When Chino kept knocking out and was on his way to his first world title fight, the Venezuelan was the one guiding him under the ring. A health problem took him away for a while in his role as coach, but this did not prevent the Argentine boxer from reaching glory.
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“We worked more than two years together, but I had a health problem. I was overweight and as a result I suffered a small inflammation in the aorta. I came to weigh 120 kilos. He (Maidana) always knew that it was my illness that kept us away, so today I feel very good and I am proud to train him again ”, Liendo tells in exclusive dialogue with Infobae.
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Rafa lived well up close when Maidana reached 25 fights undefeated and also suffered alongside him when the first loss came against Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik, for the WBA superlight belt (February 7, 2009 in Germany). The next fight against the American Víctor Ortiz, in which Chino won the interim title of the category (June of the same year in Los Angeles) was the last fight that had them together in the previous preparation.
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More than a decade from that sad moment when he had to walk away for health reasons, Rafa Liendo, this Venezuelan coach who is well known in his country for exalting several promises and world youth champions, He came back and entered the big scene of this new movie called: The Return.
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With Liendo away, Marcos Maidana overcame another hard setback (defeat against the British Amir Khan, in December 2010) and managed to be world champion in two different categories. And as a corollary, the Chinese reached world fame after two legendary fights against Floyd Mayweather, the multiple American champion and one of the best boxers in history.
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The chronicles will tell that they were defeats, but Maidana, her environment and boxing fans will say that “The first was won by the Chinese.” With nothing to reproach himself and from the highest place that a boxer can aspire to, It was time to say goodbye and go to the best stage: the one that brings him to power enjoy with his family everything he achieved with so much effort and sacrifice.
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As the Chinese recognized him on several occasions, the family became the only thing in his life. Together with his loved ones he gave himself all tastes. This is how he came to accuse in the balance more than 100 kilos. But weight was never a problem for him and Chino Maidana himself joked about his “enemy”. The new “bug” bit him again in 2019.
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The idea of return, failed in 2019 due to extra-sports issues, led him to a unique preparation in Las Vegas with record weight loss. However, it was the current preparation, with full decision and more will than before, that allowed him to hit the key.
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And there was Rafa Liendo again at his side to serve the champion on a tray the best set-up for his long-awaited return. The coronavirus pandemic delayed its exhibition before Jorge Acero Cali, which would serve as a “presentation” of the return that everyone asked for and that this means advanced as a scoop.
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The COVID-19 was also not an obstacle in Chino Maidana’s career and the set-up continued on her native Margarita. Up there he traveled and settled Rafa Liendo, this renowned boxing coach, who in exclusive dialogue with Infobae tell the details of the training for the first time that allowed the two-time world champion to lose more than 30 kilos and wear a figure similar to that of his best version.
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What is the physical work of Chino Maidana for El Regreso and how do they carry it out?
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It works in two stages: the physical part and the technique at the same time. We started in Pilar, before quarantine. Since 8, with racing and intermittent acceleration and every day I add more race. In the afternoon, from 16, we do technical-tactical. Much sack, shade and gauntlet. We know each other a lot and for years, and that certainly helps. I know what his boxing is like and what I’m doing now is get him back into boxing rhythm. It has been six years since I did anything and I want my body and mind to return to the physical part it had.
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I imagine you are aware of the Chinese publication. What do you think about his new figure?
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Yes, of course I saw it. It is the first time that this has happened to me of working with someone with so much inactivity, but he is a boy so recognized worldwide for his strength that I can only tell you that he is doing wonders. I’m seeing it well, getting used to what it was six years ago. It is an honor for me to train him and that he has chosen me because I know that many wish they could. Although I have had fighters in my country who were champions, it is a blessing from God that the Maidana, because I also train TNT, gave me this great responsibility.
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What weight are you at and what is the ultimate goal?
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Today it is at 78 kg. Only when we reach 75 kg., There we will begin the bodybuilding work. But we are going little by little, we must remove the fat with this type of work. That is the goal, to burn the incorporated fat and then go full throttle with the bodybuilding. Let it be very limp and then I will tone it up. We aim at 69 kg. super welterweight.
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How do you feel about Maidana?
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Very plugged in and eager. I am taking it little by little, without killing it. I’m not looking for that. We work four or five rounds and I release it. But in that time I do not press it, so that it looks good and I do not force it so that it does not bore me. It is something that inexplicable what I see and notice from the results. I want to adapt it to my training.
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Amid the quarantine of the pandemic, do you have any tentative dates for your fight?
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No, but when they call me and tell me that date is the one indicated, I’ll have it ready.
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