By Justin Schneewind (Facebook | Twitter)
HOUSTON, TX, August 9, 2o12 – Jacob Silva and Ricky Turcios hold differing opinions on their Aug. 25 fight for the flyweight title at Legacy Amateur Series 9, a rematch of their April 14 fight for that same belt at Legacy Amateur Series 8.
Silva, who won by unanimous decision, asserts that Turcios needs to work his way back up to a title shot the way Silva did when he lost his first shot at the belt.
Turcios makes the claim that the five-round bout that won Fight of the Night honors deserves a reprisal.
With some luck and some begging, Turcios got his wish and a chance to avenge the only loss of his career.
“I feel like we need to do it one more time to see who’s really better,” said Turcios, who partly blamed his loss on an illness and a shortened training camp.
Silva (5-2) still disagrees with Turcios (3-1) receiving an immediate rematch.
“I was really against giving him a rematch for the basic fact that when I fought against in my first fight for the belt I lost in a 2-1 decision, and I did like Ricky did,” Silva said. “I begged for rematch like Ricky did. Why did this guy get another chance at the belt in three months when I had to wait for my seventh fight?”
Collin Cantrell, the matchmaker for Legacy’s amateur fights and the promotion’s ring announcer, can answer that.
Cantrell initially planned for Silva to fight Ryan Hollis, but he was forced back to the drawing board when Hollis accepted a pro fight.
The next contender and the only fighter who could have kept Silva on the Aug. 25 card, Cantrell said, was Turcios.
The matchmaker admitted that it was not a perfect solution, but he saw several reasons for the rematch.
He cited the persistence of Turcios, who repeatedly asked to avenge his only loss before he moved to the professional ranks.
In a show of his dedication, Turcios put off his pro debut and his move up to 135 lbs. for a rematch at 125 lbs.
“He didn’t care if it was a title shot or not,” Cantrell said. “He just wanted Jacob Silva.”
Cantrell also saw a chance for Silva to prove he can approach fights like a professional. Silva already demonstrated his character in taking the fight, Cantrell said.
“Silva really didn’t want him, and I don’t blame him,” Cantrell said, adding that it hurt to only be able to offer Silva a fight he did not want.
Silva may not want the fight, but he’s preparing for what he expects to be another five-round fight.
“I can’t go into this fight thinking I dominated the first fight,” Silva said.
Turcios certainly does not think he did.
“I personally thought I won the fight,” Turcios said “I was pretty pissed about it.”
The fighters pointed to cardio as a separating factor in the fight.
Silva’s coach at Silverback Fight Club, Tony Orozco, ranks his fighter’s cardio above anyone.
Turcios points to his shortened training camp as part of the reason for the disparity in conditioning in the original fight.
His coach at Gracie Barra North Houston, Alex Morono, typically puts him through a training camp that lasts six to eight weeks.
Turcios’ illness cut that training camp in half and compromised his effectiveness in the remaining half.
After a full camp free of health issues, Morono expects a different performance.
“I think we’ll see Ricky really pushing the pace and leading where the fight goes,” Morono said.
Turcios credits that first and only loss for providing a boost in his training.
“It’s really taking me out of my comfort zone,” Turcios said. “It really lit that fire.”
He said he’s seen improvement in all aspects of his game as well as a change in the way he thinks about training and fighting.
The next mind he has to change belongs to the man who does not think he deserves another shot at the belt.
“I still don’t want to give him a rematch, and I still don’t think he deserves a rematch,” Silva said after providing the following prediction of the fight.
“I intend on us being bloody.”
