Planning a beating!

It is a refined technique; the planning stage for a one-time event is the key to achieve success.

This strategy demands to be precise, intended and effective; regardless of the activity in which the strategy will be applied.

That was the task of Pedro Luis Diaz, a Cuban Olympian trainer who recently decided to take upon an extremely challenging job; be the trainer of Puerto Rican boxing star Miguel Cotto.

Last November (2011) when Miguel Cotto’s training camp was based in Orlando, getting ready for the most anticipated rematch of the year against Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito, I had the opportunity to interview Pedro Luis Diaz.  ( Watch the full interview)

Mr. Diaz, a PHD in sports science, has devoted more than two decades to pugilism. Two years after leaving the Cuban regime he was hired to become more than a trainer the manager of a very vicious project: Destroy the boxer who dismantled his client only 3 year before. 

---“What is the desired goal?”  I asked.
--“Victory, the only thing that we are planning to do is win this fight in a convincing manner and making sure we let the world know that Miguel Cotto is the champion”, Diaz replied.

Considering the fact that boxing is always about beating up the adversary, the strategy might seems as a very simple task, nonetheless, Diaz explained how many factors he must look after when tracing a strategy to maximize his boxer’s strengths and attack the opponent’s weaknesses.  --“We have to look for the angles, we have to keep Miguel moving around the ring and not letting him (Margarito) get to the ropes. We must use the right left hook on the right eye.”

In Miguel Cotto's words after the fight: "The plan worked to perfection" 

After 10 rounds of a ferocious fight the referee stopped the fight due to the excessive punishment applied on Margarito’s right eye. The Puerto Rican boxer was precisely told to utilize his left hand after a series of directional shifts. The strategy ended with a skillful performance by Cotto who retained the World Boxing Association Super Welter championship.

The bottom line, far from the physical endurance and the athleticism involved in boxing my take on Diaz’s words where priceless in a managerial sense. Pedro Luis had a clear vision on what needed to be done and during the three months of training he crafted his client in a way he knew would be unbeatable.He did not rely on toughness or extenuating work to attain the goal, instead, he utilized the strengths of his boxer, he communicated effectively with the team and most importantly was the motivational driving force in a team that today has regained the supremacy inside and outside the ring.