CANARY MAGAZINE

Rafael Marrero Castellano, Feluco, was born in the El Palmar neighborhood in Teror. Years later he was reborn at the hand of boxing, training as a coach and turning his hobby into a way of life, an interview conducted by LoriHelp.

Feluco, have you been a boxing lover forever? 

From a very young age, although I was not a competitive boxer but used to play a "glove". I started at the Hoya La Plata gym. 

Was it your love of the ring sport that led you to prepare as a national coach?

Also, although as a coach he had a purpose that was to help young people train and get them out of the corners. After being in the Tres Palmas neighborhood (Las Palmas de GC) I went to Jinámar (Las Palmas de GC / Telde). Boxing was at its peak around the year 2000 and we enjoyed a Canarian European champion: Miranda. 

Was the cradle of boxing Jinámar?

Not exactly, although Miranda's success made him like boxing more and a very good job was done in that neighborhood. Years later I moved to Guanarteme (Las Palmas de GC) and currently I continue training at the Jet Canarias Gym, without losing sight of the goal that I set for myself in my early days.

You have achieved great achievements as a coach during these years, what do you stay with?

I am very proud of many young boys who were trained, not only in boxing, but also in sports values. And also from others who with their effort and my training have managed to compete both nationally and internationally.

You take people who come to the gym without knowing anything about anything and leave little by little. You see the progress and how they get where they need to go. That is a great reward and pride for any coach. For example: my son, Rafael Marrero, was champion of Spain twice.

What group of people attends training the most? 

It is very varied: there are people of all ages, there are those who simply come to do sports and also those who want to prepare to compete. I am placing these at the appropriate level and I carry out a security check, so that they do not get hurt, as well as their licenses. Some of those who come believe that through boxing they will be able to live better economically but that is not possible for everyone, however it changes their life. The training makes them be more sporty in everything, values ​​are instilled in them. That is important.

Has boxing become fashionable?

Some artists have spread it a lot and that has created a certain fashion. In recent times there are more women who train boxing and they are very good, they work with will and perseverance

Is social work done with boxing?

Yes it is done. Boxing is not violence compared to what you might think. Boxing starts without contact or with contact without touching; doing technique, touching the bags and not the people.

The issue that boxing was only done in poor neighborhoods has already been lost. Today anyone from any field does it. A lot of Erasmus students come through Guanarteme who are living there and it has also become an exchange of culture.

What values ​​do you work with boxing?

As a competition, boxing is Olympic and is regulated. Boxing cannot be used in the street and healthy life is instilled in them. They cannot smoke or stay up late ... if they want to compete they cannot but have a healthy life and sports behavior. Feeding is key but in the amateur I do not take it to the table. If he is a professional boxer, yes, because the category is measured by weight. Depending on the weight of the athlete, the type of training also goes.

What does boxing contribute?

It is the beautiful sport. It is practiced with a good table of gymnastics, abdominals, camber, waist, bag, mittens ... A circuit training is created that varies and is thus entertaining, motivating. 

Weights are a separate thing and there is always someone who builds muscles to feel better, to look good. You have to know how to mark the right point of bodybuilding because an excess of weights makes you slow, reduces speed. 

What about online training, over the internet?

I do not like online training because I do not go for the economic issue but to educate and get people off the street. This is done in the gym, in person.

How has the health crisis affected the day-to-day of training?

A training session is scheduled daily. We are currently limited by distances of 2 meters and not being able to touch each other, masks ... We have been reinventing ourselves and while some touch the bag, others jump rope. It is more sacrificial and carries a lot of worry.

Gyms have been punished a lot, however they are safe places. We have taken a total slump. And not only this, we have not been able to enjoy it as a show either. Just in these days it is taking up little by little.

Are you talking about the Evenings?

Yes. It is normally competed in Boxing Evenings in La Gallera and if it is something very big even in the Arena. Some time ago they were made in Telde, at Pablo Hernández.

There is a lot of fans in the Canary Islands, if it were not like that it would not have been possible to have evenings in all these years. Without an audience there is nothing to do because for this sport there is no sponsor. And as I already told you, it is not a minority sport at all, but they have not supported us, especially politicians, because it has been associated with violence.

What would a boxing class look like for someone starting from scratch?

The first thing to do is teach him to walk, to open his feet, to walk sideways, around, turns. Balance is also worked with these exercises and positioning yourself well. Then the hands: place them well, remove them as it should be.

What is also convenient is to combine this with a little touch to the bag. Putting on the gloves is something motivating, the first time someone does it is a memorable moment. That is never forgotten.

What physical requirements must a person meet to train?

Not having medical conditions that limit the practice of sport, follow the routine set by the coach and be consistent. When someone trains daily you can see progress.

How much time do you have to dedicate to training?

About two hours a day. It has a theoretical and a technical part: boxing and psychological support in training.

What advice would you give to youth who are interested in boxing?

Rather my advice is for parents. That he trusts the preparer because he knows how to mark the plans and is aware. I encourage mothers and fathers to sign their children up for the gym because boxing takes youth out of street corners and the dangers of parks.