Tony
12-06-2008, 16:39
http://mmamania.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/juanitoibarrainterview.jpg
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is a wanted man — not just inside the Octagon, but outside of it, too.
With the conclusion of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7, which he was a coach alongside Forrest Griffin, he is now hunkering down in Big Bear, Calif., to prepare for his monster upcoming title defense at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” on July 5.
It’s time for comical champion to get serious. And that means, according to his manager and trainer, Juanito Ibarra, that he needs to be free of any distractions sans a select few planned appearances and official commitments for the UFC in the coming weeks.
While MMAmania.com was unsuccessful in getting Rampage Jackson on the phone because of this very reason, Ibarra was willing to take time out of the camp he has prepared for the light heavyweight champion of the world to chat with us about all things Rampage Jackson. From how the camp is coming along to how Rampage liked coaching the up-and-coming TUF Middleweights to where Ibarra sees Rampage in the next few years, we covered it all.
And although I think I might have annoyed Ibarra with one of my questions that calls Rampage’s coaching success rate into question, you can’t argue with the man’s record — or the record of his champion prize fighters. A former boxing trainer for Oscar de la Hoya — who, by the way, has generated more money than any other boxer in history — Ibarra has helped Rampage build up his own empire, which now includes an energy drink, ringtones, rims and more.
In addition to being undefeated (6-0) since bringing Ibarra on board, Rampage also holds both the UFC light heavyweight championship strap and the PRIDE FC light heavyweight belt. Not too shabby.
We chatted with the man behind the man. Here’s what he had to say:
LEES HIER VERDER (http://mmamania.com/2008/06/12/those-who-cant-%e2%80%a6-teach-mmamaniacom-exclusive-interview-with-rampage-jacksons-trainermanager-juanito-ibarra/#more-6786)
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is a wanted man — not just inside the Octagon, but outside of it, too.
With the conclusion of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7, which he was a coach alongside Forrest Griffin, he is now hunkering down in Big Bear, Calif., to prepare for his monster upcoming title defense at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” on July 5.
It’s time for comical champion to get serious. And that means, according to his manager and trainer, Juanito Ibarra, that he needs to be free of any distractions sans a select few planned appearances and official commitments for the UFC in the coming weeks.
While MMAmania.com was unsuccessful in getting Rampage Jackson on the phone because of this very reason, Ibarra was willing to take time out of the camp he has prepared for the light heavyweight champion of the world to chat with us about all things Rampage Jackson. From how the camp is coming along to how Rampage liked coaching the up-and-coming TUF Middleweights to where Ibarra sees Rampage in the next few years, we covered it all.
And although I think I might have annoyed Ibarra with one of my questions that calls Rampage’s coaching success rate into question, you can’t argue with the man’s record — or the record of his champion prize fighters. A former boxing trainer for Oscar de la Hoya — who, by the way, has generated more money than any other boxer in history — Ibarra has helped Rampage build up his own empire, which now includes an energy drink, ringtones, rims and more.
In addition to being undefeated (6-0) since bringing Ibarra on board, Rampage also holds both the UFC light heavyweight championship strap and the PRIDE FC light heavyweight belt. Not too shabby.
We chatted with the man behind the man. Here’s what he had to say:
LEES HIER VERDER (http://mmamania.com/2008/06/12/those-who-cant-%e2%80%a6-teach-mmamaniacom-exclusive-interview-with-rampage-jacksons-trainermanager-juanito-ibarra/#more-6786)