Boxer Keeping Day Job, Even with Belt
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D2 FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2019 LATIMES.COM/SPORTS Boxer keeping day job, even with belt Cancio is enjoying the Cancio, set to defend newfound limelight and fan- fare and relishing the under- title Friday, continues dog role for now, but his day to work 40-hour job is not some kind of pro- motional gimmick. He’s not weeks at gas company. yet earning enough money solely from boxing. Still, By Manouk Akopyan Cancio made $75,000 for his first scrap against Machado, Marvin Hagler once de- and he’ll earn $125,000 for the livered a marvelous quote on rematch before everyone the cerebral approach and gets their cut, and before psyche of a pugilist: “It’s taxes. His previous earn- tough to get out of bed to do ings, aside from one $50,000 roadwork at 5 a.m. when purse, did not come close to you’ve been sleeping in silk the figures he’s now earning. pajamas.” Nicknamed “El Chango” Andrew Cancio, a re- because by the age of 14 he al- cently crowned WBA super- ready had a beard, Cancio featherweight titleholder quit the sport in 2016 after a born in Blythe, Calif., is a TKO loss to Joseph Diaz on world champion cut from a the Canelo Alvarez-Liam different cloth — not made of Smith pay-per-view under- luxurious fabric. The 30- card. He’d lost three of his year-old boxer is a previ- last six bouts, so he decided ously retired career journey- to retire, frustrated with the man (20-4-2, 15 KOs) who uncertainty of the sport. Af- can’t be said to have enjoyed ter a 19-month break, howev- the spoils of the sport in er, the itch returned. He terms of opulence. picked up the gloves again Like many boxers, the for one more run in 2018, and 130-pound fighter endures it’s proved to be successful. grueling roadwork in the Greg Beacham Associated Press Providing for his family is wee hours of the morning. ANDREW CANCIO, a professional boxer since 2006, gained recognition after winning the WBA super- largely the reason he still But after his predawn run featherweight title in February. “It was the fight of my life,” said Cancio, who was born in Blythe, Calif. pulls double duty. Leading concludes, he changes from up to the fight, he conducted his nylon sweatsuit to cover- enormity of his first world- career-defining perform- saying it was my night, he ing at Fantasy Springs, interviews while sitting in alls and steel-toe boots be- title shot in front of a sold- ance to make the first de- made excuses discrediting which is 100 miles from his truck during lunch cause, 40 hours a week, Can- out crowd mostly there to fense of his belt in a rematch my victory,” said Cancio, Blythe, a small truck-stop breaks. This week, to fully fo- cio works as a construction see him. As soon as he with Machado (21-1, 17 KOs) who was surprised how town on the California-Ari- cus on the rematch, he’s us- technician for Southern Cal- stepped into the ring, he at the Fantasy Springs Re- quickly he turned the first zona border. The venue has ing accrued vacation days to ifornia Gas Co., toiling on lo- promptly got caught with a sort Casino in Indio, Calif. fight around in his favor. “My always provided Cancio, take time off. cal streets, wielding a jack- left uppercut and was The fight will be streamed style was difficult for him to who is 9-1 in his previous ap- When he was juggling hammer on pavement and knocked down in the first on DAZN. handle. I’m surprised he pearances there, a chance to training for the Machado fixing gas leaks. round. He bounced back off “I don’t expect anything wanted a rematch. I’m going please the partisan crowd. fight and his gas company His day job leaves him of the canvas, survived a different for this fight. I to show him that it was no He’s even more beloved job, Cancio’s typical week- sweaty, tired and sore, but it deep gash over his left eyelid think he just went up against fluke. I’m a better fighter back home in Blythe as the day went as follows: Up at provides him with security and then went on to knock a guy that can get hit, get than he is. I have a chip on 20,000-population desert 4:30 a.m. for a five-mile run, and benefits to take care of down Machado three times knocked down and come my shoulder to annihilate community can claim its navigating the asphalt his family while he pursues a in the fourth round en route back to fight even harder,” him again.” first world champion — with streets that he’d be soon be resurgence as a boxer. to a technical knockout win. said Cancio. “My nerves got “Cancio is a great fighter, a feel-good story to boot. In pounding again at work. In February, Cancio’s life “It was the fight of my the best of me that night. I but I’m ready to come back April, Cancio was given the Change into work clothes by changed radically when he life,” said Cancio, who was didn’t get over it until I got on Friday,” said the south- keys to the city by Mayor 5:50 a.m. Leave home in Ox- overcame monstrous odds crowned champion in front dropped. That was my wake- paw Machado, who contem- Dale Reynolds and pre- nard and drive to the South- to defeat Alberto Machado, of his family and friends, as up call, and it reminded me it plated passing up on a re- sented his championship ern California Gas Co. an unbeaten Puerto Rican well as his boss and about 40 was time to get to work.” match and moving up in belt by Oscar De La Hoya, branch in Simi Valley. At 6:30 champion two years his jun- coworkers from the gas com- After Cancio’s convinc- weight because, at 5 feet 10, his promoter, in front of a.m., start work. ior who walked into the ring pany. “It’s still surreal be- ing performance, the Fred- he had a hard time cutting nearly 1,000 people at the Joe “I’m always tired be- with a 4-inch reach advan- cause I’ve never had this be- die Roach-trained and down to 130 pounds. “I never Wine recreation center as tween work and training. 1 tage, 3 ⁄2-inch height edge fore. I’ve been on this grind Miguel Cotto-promoted underestimated my oppo- Cancio spent the day signing Both are hard work in its and devastating knockout for a while. My life has not Machado said he’d had is- nent. I knew he was good be- autographs and taking pic- own right, but I have to do power. changed too much. I still sues preparing to make cause that’s how he earned tures. it,” said Cancio. “I can’t The fight unfolded in al- have my job and go to work weight for his third title de- the opportunity to fight for a “There’s been a big slack. My goal is to remain most cinematic fashion. every day. I’m just getting fense. He was distracted by a world title. It was just a situ- change in his attitude. He world champion. That’s how Cancio first had to shake off more recognition now.” surgery for his 1-year-old ation and it ended in his fa- feels like a champion now,” I find my strive. I love boxing. prefight anxiety. He was On Friday, Cancio, a pro- son. vor that night.” trainer Joseph Janik said. I wouldn’t say I love my day dealing with a wave of emo- fessional boxer since 2006, “Instead of being a The rematch will mark “He feels like he belongs with job. I’d rather wake up and tions stemming from the will return to the site of his gentleman of the sport and the 11th time Cancio is fight- the best in the world.” just box.” MORNING BRIEFING PRO CALENDAR FRI. SAT. SUN. MON. TUE. 21 22 23 24 25 These adults need to grow up COLORADO COLORADO COLORADO at Arizona at Arizona 7 4:15 1 6:30 6:30 SNLA Ch. 11 SNLA SNLA SNLA By Chuck Schilken DODGERS A brawl broke out among at St. Louis at St. Louis at St. Louis CINCINNATI adults attending a baseball 5:15 11:15 a.m. 4 7 game played by 7-year-old FSW FSW ESPN FSW athletes last weekend in ANGELS Colorado. Police say the at fight started after one group Cincinnati of adults did not agree with 4:30 a call made by a 13-year-old SpecSN umpire. GALAXY As you can tell, the word “adult” is being used very loosely here. NEXT: JUNE 28 AT COLORADO, 7, UNIMAS Lakewood police said there were numerous in- LAFC juries, with one person at Seattle being seriously hurt. Based 7:30 at Phoenix on video shot by someone in SpecSN, 3 attendance and released by CBSSN the police, it does not ap- SPARKS pear that any children Shade denotes home game (based on age, not maturi- ty) were involved in the clash. Five citations for disor- TODAY ON THE AIR derly conduct and fighting in public have been issued TIME EVENT ON THE AIR AUTO RACING so far.