Ricardo Mayorga: "Sequestered" to Ocala Training Camp to Ensure He Makes Weight

It’s not uncommon for fighters to follow strange rituals and programs to help them get, what they believe to be, an edge in training.

Juan Manuel Marquez proudly drank his own urine and ate raw quail eggs because he thought it gave him the essential nutrients to be strong for his bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Oscar De La Hoya subjected himself to electro-therapy during training for his showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Using a device called The Avazzia, Oscar would receive electric impulses that stimulate the nervous system to generate neuropeptides, a key biochemical ingredient in healing.

Even the great Marvin Hagler would take to his morning runs in army boots because he believed it made him tougher. 

However Ricardo Mayorga (29-7-23) has taken this concept and stripped it down to the very basics in training camp to get an edge in his fight with Miguel Cotto (35-2-28)—stay in training camp.

During Tuesday’s media conference call, Allen Hopper announced “He [Mayorga] has been sequestered since January 25, at his North Central Florida training camp.”

This is a really big deal for the cigarette smoking, beer swilling fighter from Nicaragua.  To actually stay in camp and train means he's not taking the bout with Cotto lightly.

Ricardo sounded very proud of his progress in camp as well, “I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life. I feel like I’ve had the best camp of my career. I feel so disciplined for this fight that I’d fight tomorrow if I had to”

Imagine what his career would look like if he did this for every fight. 

Seriously, Mayorga has a reputation for being out of shape.  The fact that he is just now realizing he needs to work hard and dedicate himself to training camp could mean he’s ready to go out on a high note.

However the more appropriate sentiment is, Mayorga knows this is his last shot at a title and he had better give himself the best opportunity at being competitive. 

Relentless: March 12, 2011—Miguel Angel Cotto vs. Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga.