Training like a champion has made Denis Grachev a recluse
Taking a rare day off from work, Denis Grachev gets to share Father’s Day with his wife and daughter Matilda.
One of City Boxing’s coaches went missing several weeks ago. Word came that pro-boxer Denis “Drago’s Son” Grachev (13-1, 8 KOs) had gone North to Big Bear, CA to train at Abel Sanchez’s Summit Gym where a stable of fighters to include WBA and IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin were on hand to help him prepare for his next fight against Edwin Rodriguez (23-0-0, 15 KOs) in that July 13th showdown for the 60/40 split of the $1,000,000 in the Million Dollar Super Four tournament in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Grachev earned his place in the finals on March 30, 2013 with a narrow, hair’s breadth, 10-round split-decision victory over the undefeated two-time world champion Zsolt Erdei.
Video of the Denis Grachev versus Zsolt Erdei fight
The popular San Diego boxer stated that while he was only in camp for 10 days to prepare for Erdei, this camp will total six weeks which should leave him in “the best condition ever.”
“We are high in the mountains, eight of us, just boxing and training. It is hard work, very intensive, with jogging in the morning and much training the rest of the day. I wasn’t in my best shape last time, but this will be different. Baruch (Carlos “Baruch” Ferreira) has taken full charge of my intense training.”
Over the past seven years that Grachev has lived here in San Diego, more than a few coaches/trainers have helped him. Baruch has become more than just Denis’ lead trainer, he helps his best friend with his diet, conditioning, resistance, pad work, you name it.
Grachev also said the fight with Erdei was the hardest of his career. “With his boxing style and experience, it was my most difficult fight ever. It was hard to find the key to beating him. I think it will be easier with Rodriguez. He’s the favorite according to many boxing fans, but they are going to be surprised. Most likely, it’s going to be his first loss.”
Sparring with Golovkin has added sharpness to his repertoire. He’s also training with Zaurbek Baysangurov, the WBO junior-middleweight champion, and two other Russians.
“I’ve had very good sparring, especially Gennady whose last defense topped the Monte Carlo card. We are studying Rodriguez’s style and sparring accordingly.”
Even though the former champion kickboxer, mixed martial artist, has fought all over the world, he’s especially enjoyed this Monte Carlo experience. “It’s a fantastic place and I learned good boxing lessons there. I found out some of my mistakes and I am now working on them. Winning the Super Four Tournament would mean a lot; it would be a great honor to be considered better than Erdei and Rodriguez.”
(top left) Here we see some of the top talent assembled to help Denis Grachev with his training. (top right) Grachev recovers in a tub of ice water after a full day of workouts.
The task master, Carlos Baruch, is shown working with Denis Grachev.
(top) Photos from the Zsolt Erdei fight of March 30, 2013. (bottom right) Carlos Baruch, Denis’ coach has his arm raised after winning an MMA match in the Xplode Fight Series, Valley Center, CA.
(top, l to r) Denis Grachev stands outside the City Boxing gym in San Diego. Members of the gym have a party for Vernon Lee, a popular boxing coach. (below, l to r) The formidable San Miguel Mountain is shown. Each week, these gents went into beast-mode to climb atop the San Miguel Mountain in Chula Vista, CA. Round trip mileage is approximately 7 miles out and back with a 2,000 foot gain on a mountain 2,500 foot above sea level.
(l to r) Evgeniy Khil, Denis Grachev, Grachev’s manager and City Boxing Gym owner Mark Dion plus legendary trainer Pepe Morales pose for a photo in 2006, the year the two Russian athletes arrived in San Diego. Photo of Grachev’s opponent on July 13, 2013, Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez from Worcester, Massachusetts by way of the Dominican Republic.
The Monte Carlo card also includes Khabib Allakhverdiev (18-0, 8 KOs), the WBA and IBO light-welterweight champion, defending his titles against Souleymane M’baye (40-4-1, 22 KOs); Dmytro Kucher (21-0, 15 KOs) defending his WBC Silver cruiserweight title against Junior Makabu (13-1, 13 KOs) plus a European middleweight title fight between Maksym Bursak (26-1-1, 2 KOs) and Prince Arron (23-4-1, 5 KOs).
