D6 LATIMES.COM/SPORTS It’s tougher than it looks

and Leo what to do. Not be- Santa Cruz fights for ing in the ring training Leo is actually better for me be- another world title, cause I get to see a different takes inspiration from vantage point. It’s a better view because I get to see the father’s cancer battles. mistakes and correct them. I’m very proud of Leo.” By Manouk Akopyan Santa Cruz is no stranger to moving up in weight. For — Jose this fight, he’s leaning on Santa Cruz maintains an ex- strength and conditioning terior image of machismo coach Andy Aguilar, who’s when he’s shouting instruc- tasked with helping his 31- tions from the corner of the year-old pupil carry his ring as his son Leo Santa power to a new division. Cruz, a three-division cham- Santa Cruz has been spar- pion, builds on his budding ring with much heavier op- career. ponents and sucking down As has been customary extra protein shakes every for years, on and off the cam- morning to make sure he era, Jose is adorned with his molds into his weight. traditional black cowboy “We always work hard in hat, leather boots, dress the gym so that we can shirt, suit vest, pocket throw a lot of punches in the Erik Verduzco Associated Press square, bulky gold chains, fight. We want to put the , 40, weighed in for Saturday’s title rematch with almost five rings and bracelets and a pressure on and give the pounds lighter than he was in their first fight, thanks to a new team of trainers and coaches. thick black mustache. He fans a great fight,” Santa drives around in a Corvette, Cruz said. but his demeanor is so hard- Born in Mexico but now ened he rarely smiles, even representing , when his son wins. Santa Cruz brings a fan- But beneath the bravado friendly style to fights. He es- Ortiz has slimmed down and bold appearance is a caped an impoverished ado- man who’s masking pain lescence in Compton, his and a broken-down body af- family struggling to make ter battling with myeloma rent, using candles for light spinal cancer for the last and picking at scraps from so much he needs a belt three years. the trash to sell later. Jose, 59, now in remis- Now, Santa Cruz lives in sion, has needed the use of a Corona and drives a Lam- his hands. bedside equipment that “su- and Caleb wheelchair at their City of borghini among a cavalcade Boxer is working with To fight off Father Time, per oxygenated” Ortiz’s sys- Plant. “I worked with Her- Industry gym of late, but of cars because he’s been Ortiz, whose beyond-his- tem by pumping oxygen man and made a few adjust- come Saturday, he will put making big money ever since ex-BALCO boss years appearance always with a concentrator and spe- ments. Luis is a machine, aside the morphine that he becoming a world champion Conte to beat Wilder has led to questions about cial mask to help with recov- and we listened to what his ingests daily and step into in 2012. The only hiccup of his his birth certificate, em- ery. Paired with a SNAC sup- body was telling us. He’s go- the bright lights of the MGM career was a loss to Carl in rematch for title. barked on a path to revital- plement regimen, it led to ing to look faster and strong- Grand in Las Vegas to coach Frampton in 2016. Before ize his body, packing his deep, restful sleep that low- er. I think Deontay will over- his son toward a fourth that fight, Santa Cruz had to By Manouk Akopyan frame with more muscle and ered his heart rate and re- look him, and Luis will knock world title as Santa Cruz (36- deliver the news that his fa- developing his fast-twitch duced breath frequency, him out.” 1-1, 19 ) makes his ther had Stage 3 myeloma — LAS VEGAS — Luis Or- muscle fibers. thus producing more testos- Caicedo added, “We junior- debut bone cancer at the spine tiz stripped down to his “Victor, Larry and Jukka terone and releasing addi- didn’t want any ‘what if’ against Miguel Flores (24-2, that would require chemo- tights, showing off his newly have been instrumental and tional growth hormones, questions, and to leave no 12 KOs) for the vacant World therapy and surgery. The fol- improved physique. The indispensable for me in this Conte said. stone unturned. Everyone Boxing Assn. title. The fight lowing year, Santa Cruz man nicknamed King Kong camp,” Ortiz said. “I’m “We’re accelerating heal- has put in their two cents will serve as the co-main avenged his loss and has pounded his chest after see- ready, focused and prepared ing, tissue repair and replen- into Luis, and we’re trying to event for the Deontay since been calling for the ing the numbers on the to fight. I feel great and we’re ishing oxygen deficit in half make a nickel out of it.” 1 Wilder-Luis Ortiz heavy- glamour names in the sport. scale: 236 ⁄2 pounds. The fig- communicating well as a the time,” said Conte, who’s Ortiz’s renewed ap- weight rematch. “There’s a lot of pressure ure did not indicate much unit. I’ve seen a big differ- also worked with boxers An- proach to training can’t im- “It’s been very hard for on me because I’m favored change, but the more chis- ence in my recovery and dre Ward, and prove the strength of his me and what my dad has against Flores, but I never eled frame sure did, from the staying injury-free.” Devin Haney, among others. chin against Wilder, who has been going through with see myself like that,” Santa last time he fought the oppo- Conte, who spent four “We’re strategizing by one of the sport’s most dev- cancer,” Santa Cruz said. Cruz said. “He’s going to nent standing across from months in prison in 2005 for understanding the body and astating right hands. Ortiz “He gets happy when I train, come with everything he him. his role shilling steroids in what hormones are being was dropped three times be- but it’s painful for me be- has. It’s the opportunity of The 40-year-old Ortiz the BALCO scandal involv- produced, and what acti- fore the first fight was waved cause he’s always in pain. I his lifetime.” (31-1, 26 knockouts) will be ing high-profile athletes off. He said he has plenty of can’t really concentrate on After cementing his fighting Saturday against such as Barry Bonds, is us- motivation going into this training sometimes.” “King of L.A.” status with a cham- ing his new lease on sports ‘He’s going to fight and wants to further During a recent media second win against Abner pion Deontay Wilder (41-0-1, nutrition, and life, by becom- disrupt the already chaotic day training session in Los Mares last year, Santa Cruz 40 KOs), the man he mo- ing boxing’s mad scientist look faster and heavyweight picture by up- Angeles, the elder Santa started calling out the likes mentarily had reeling in and championing Voluntary setting Wilder ahead of his Cruz ceremoniously held of Gary Russell Jr. and Ger- March 2018 during the sev- Anti-Doping Association’s stronger. I think planned rematch with mitts for his son as a maria- vonta Davis for a unification enth round before being drug-testing program to lev- on Feb. 22. chi band played in the back- fight. But neither happened, dropped in the 10th. el playing fields. Deontay will “Deontay had his reasons ground. Santa Cruz barely and Davis vacated his title Near Ortiz stood long- Ortiz is not concerned overlook him, and for taking this fight,” Ortiz peppered the pads his father by moving up to 135. Santa time trainer Herman with his connection to said. “But on Saturday, I’m was holding, hoping the Cruz and Flores will fight for Caicedo and a new team of Conte, even after twice test- Luis will knock going to show why that was a cameras got the necessary that crown. technicians who’ve been re- ing positive for banned sub- mistake. I’m going to be the clips they needed before “I’m really motivated, cruited to revive the Cuban stances, once in 2014 for the him out.’ new heavyweight champion moving on two minutes later. like this is my first world ti- combatant’s body. They are anabolic steroid Nan- — Larry Wade, of the world. Being away The relentless and al- tle,” Santa Cruz said. “This strength and conditioning drolone, and the other in conditioning coach from my family has been ways-swinging Santa Cruz is something big for me. It coach Larry Wade, who is 2017, which was because of harder than training and won’t be offering the same to will help me be remembered the Las Vegas as- high blood pressure medi- dieting. These sacrifices are Flores. He’ll be fighting to in- as one of the best Mexican sistant track and field coach, cation that also doubles as a vates specific muscle tissue. for a purpose. We have tun- spire his father and chal- fighters.” physical therapist Jukka masking agent. Ortiz never That way we can make him nel vision for this goal of lenge his body for the first The boxing-obsessed Jo- Toivala and nutritional ad- attempted to obtain a thera- stronger and faster and burn beating Wilder.” time above the feather- se Santa Cruz had dreams visor Victor Conte, the for- peutic use exemption. the fat. Ortiz also will be fighting weight division, a weight for one of his four sons to one mer BALCO founder who’s Ortiz brought on one of “I’m not a fan of long-dis- for his ailing 11-year-old class that he has cam- day become a world champi- the proprietor of the Bay the most notorious steroids tance running. It develops daughter Lismercedes, who paigned for his last seven on when he was taking them Area-based company SNAC peddlers to his team to con- slow-twitch muscle fiber, is battling the painful skin fights before vacating a title to gyms as teens. His young- — Scientific Nutrition for duct comprehensive blood and that’s not what boxers condition epidermolysis to further chase history. A est son ended up realizing Advanced Conditioning. tests and prescribe a unique do at all. We instead prefer bullosa. Among Ortiz’s fans 1 champion at 118, 122 and 126 his vision, and will hope to do Ortiz, who weighed 241 ⁄4 set of supplements based off sprint interval training, re- in attendance Saturday will pounds, Santa Cruz is now it four times over. pounds in the first fight that. Conte said he moni- versibility of effort training be Lismercedes’ physician, trained by his brother Anto- The father will be in his against Wilder, said he was tored markers of overtrain- with resistance bands going Peter Marinkovich of Stan- nio, 41, who holds mitts as son’s corner again Saturday, gassed and fatigued after ing, blood-oxygen satura- in different directions and ford University School of their father, still the boss of ignoring his agony, and unloading an unprecedent- tion, heart rate, breath fre- plyometrics with jumping.” Medicine. The Ortiz family the gym, offers instructions wheelchair, to step into the ed barrage in the seventh quency, blood flow and hy- Enter Wade’s sprint pro- will head home to for seated outside the ring. ring and shout instructions. round, Wilder’s most con- dration. Conte calculated gram to potentially help a quick retreat before soon “I’m always in pain from “He’s motivated me to go cerning 45 seconds as a pro- the training-load-to-recov- close the distance to Wilder meeting with Marinkovich the cancer. I’m not going to even harder,” Leo said. “He fessional. But Wilder es- ery-interval ratio and deter- and quickly get into position to discuss the next treat- give up though. I’m going to has to live with the pain. My caped the close call and re- mined how to best push Or- in the pocket without get- ment. give it my all,” Jose said as he pain is temporary. My goal covered to finish the tired tiz to the limits. If the en- ting hit. With a win, Ortiz would moved around the MGM when I began boxing was and fading Ortiz. At the time zymes and markers ap- “I’m the new stimulus to be the heavyweight king. Grand on Thursday in an just to become a world of the stoppage, Wilder was peared elevated, they cut get him started. I didn’t More significant paydays electric scooter. “I’m still the champion. To be a four-divi- up only 85-84 across all three back and compensated for come in and change the would follow to help him se- mastermind behind it all. sion champion is an even scorecards, and Ortiz feels the oxygen deficit. world,” said Wade, who also cure the best care for his I’m the one telling Antonio bigger dream.” he let the big win slip out of Conte said he provided has lended a hand to boxers daughter.

THE DAY IN SPORTS Russia’s Olympic status in doubt by WADA finding

chapter in a scandal that be- his contract to a nonguaran- on the Earth Course at Judge Maureen Skerda staff and wire reports gan before the 2014 Sochi teed deal, a person familiar GOLF Jumeirah Golf Estates. gave Sandusky what prose- Games, when Russian offi- with the decision told the Rory McIlroy had only two cutors and his own attorney The chances of the Rus- cials designed a scheme to Associated Press. The per- birdies in a 74 — the ninth described as effectively a life sian flag flying at next year’s allow their athletes to dope son spoke on condition of Duncan shoots worst score in the 50-man term during a hearing or- Olympics took a potentially without getting caught by anonymity because the 61 at RSM field. dered this year by an ap- lethal hit Friday when anti- substituting urine samples team had not made any pub- peals court. doping regulators recom- taken after competition with lic statements. Tyler Duncan holed out Sei Young Kim shot a mended the country be de- clean ones stored from earli- from the eighth fairway for five-under 67 that kept her will fight Dom- clared noncompliant for er. The City National Grove eagle and wound up with the lead at two shots in the CME inick Reyes on Feb. 8 in tampering with data that of Anaheim could be sacri- best score on the PGA Tour, Group Tour Championship , according to was supposed to help bring ficed so the Angels can build a nine-under 61 that staked and moved her one step ESPN. The title bout will the entire cheating episode BASEBALL as freely as possible on the him to a two-shot lead going closer to the richest prize in headline a UFC pay-per- to a close. stadium parking lot. into the weekend at the RSM women’s golf. view event. ... Floyd May- The World Anti-Doping Yankees won’t The Grove is located on Classic. weather Jr. said he’s coming Agency announced its com- part of the land the city of Duncan was at 14-under out of retirement in 2020, ac- pliance and review commit- pay Ellsbury Anaheim is discussing with 128, two shots ahead of ETC. cording to his Instagram tee delivered the recom- the Angels for possible de- Sebastian Munoz (63), post. It would be the fourth mendation to the agency’s The New York Yankees velopment, according to city Rhein Gibson (64) and D.J. Sandusky gets time the 42-year-old boxer executive committee, which plan to not pay Jacoby Ells- documents. The city and the Trahan, whose 63 came on has unretired. will discuss it Dec. 9. bury the remaining $26 mil- Angels met for their second the Plantation Course. same sentence If the executive commit- lion due under his contract, negotiating session Friday, The USC women’s soccer tee agrees to declare Rus- contending he violated the with both sides hoping to Mike Lorenzo-Vera took A judge dashed the hopes team defeated visiting Texas sia’s anti-doping agency deal by getting unauthor- strike a deal under which the a three-shot lead after the of former Penn State assist- A&M 2-1 in an NCAA second noncompliant, it would set ized medical treatment. team would stay in Anaheim second round of the season- ant football coach Jerry round match. The Trojans in motion a process that New York general man- for decades and would build ending World Tour Champi- Sandusky for a shorter pris- will host Santa Clara on could end with Russia being ager Brian Cashman sent a entertainment infrastruc- onship in Dubai. on term, resentencing him to Sunday. booted from the Tokyo letter to Ellsbury and his ture on the parking lot Lorenzo-Vera extended the same 30 to 60 years im- UCLA defeated visiting Games. agent, Scott Boras, inform- around the stadium. his one-stroke overnight posed against him in 2012 for Clemson 5-0 and will host This marks the latest ing them the team converted — Bill Shaikin lead with a three-under 69 sexually abusing children. Wisconsin on Sunday.