Hidalgo Speaks Out!
Holland’s trainer wants his name cleared from last week’s pullout in Juarez

By Joe Hidalgo

I have been in the boxing business for 42 years, since 1962 when I had my first fight. I have been a judge, a referee and a trainer. I have never lost a fight without a fight, until recently! Read on.

The situation that occurred in Juarez, Mexico on Friday, February 27^th, 2004, with Eric Holland not showing up for his 160-pound Fecarbox title fight against Kirino Garcia was completely out of my hands. He showed no signs of not wanting to fight. Through the week of the fight, he was enthusiastic and anxious to take the belt back to the U.S. He made weight at 157 lbs. I am fluent in English and Spanish and was translating the articles to Eric that were being published in the Juarez newspaper, El Diario, and TV stations.

One of the articles mentioned that his brother had been murdered and that he was going to take it out on Kirino. Another article which appeared in El Diario was that blacks were superior to Mexicans and that blacks took the Mexican women. When I mentioned this article to him he seemed to shrug it off and just stated, “These promoters are crazy, I don’t even have a brother,” never once exhibiting or stating that he would not fight for these promoters under these falsehoods. We just took it as publicity and left it at that.

In my opinion this should have made him more determined to prove himself as a professional fighter and show his boxing superiority rather than the racial superiority proclaimed by the promoters. On the day and evening of the fight we were together until after dinner, which was approximately 6 PM. At that time, we both went to our rooms to rest. The preliminary fighters left for the arena at approximately 7 PM. Since our fight was the main event scheduled at 11 PM, we stayed and rested in our rooms. I called the promoter three times throughout that afternoon inquiring about transportation for us to get to the arena. Each time I tried promoter Oswaldo Kuchle’s cell number, I would get his message announcement. I was never called back about my inquiries. I took it upon myself to ask the hotel lobby clerk if they had a hotel van available. This was at about 8 PM. After waiting, to no avail, for an answer from the promoter, I made arrangements to take us to the arena at 10 PM. At approximately 930 PM, I called my boxer Eric Holland’s room and informed him of the time of departure. He said he would be down to my room in ten minutes. I went back to my room to fill the ice buckets and arrange all equipment and boxing garb. I waited for Eric until 9:45 Pm and called his room again, I received no answer.

I then went to the lobby thinking he might have misunderstood and thought I meant to meet him there. At this time, I received a call from the promoter telling us it was time to get to the arena. I called Eric’s room again which was about 10 PM at this time, again, I received no answer. I asked the clerk for a key to Eric’s room, thinking maybe he’d fallen asleep. I opened the door and there was no sign of Eric or any personal items. The room was completely empty.

At this time, I was beginning to panic and figured he might have gone in his own vehicle to the arena. I loaded everything onto the hotel van and proceeded to the arena. As we left the hotel, I looked for Eric’s car, knowing where he’d parked. I did not see it. Upon arriving at the arena, I went to look for our dressing room expecting to find Eric.

On the way to the dressing room, I was approached by my son who was scheduled to help me in the corner and he asked for Eric. I asked my son if Eric was in his dressing room. He replied that he was not and that he had NOT seen him. I checked every dressing room, roamed the arena and parking lot, continuously looking for Eric. I then informed the promoter that Eric was nowhere to be found. He shouted at me that a manager should never leave a fighter alone that I was to blame.

When someone disappears in a matter of time that it takes to get from one room to another cannot be anyone’s fault.

I then asked the promoter to call the hotel and check Eric’s room again. We asked the police to be on the lookout for Eric’s car, after I gave them a description of it. I was in a state of panic and shock, not knowing whether Eric had run up against foul play, knowing all the crime and corruption in the city of Juarez in the past few years . . . or scream with anger!

A few minutes before the fight, it was announced that Kirino Garcia’s opponent, Eric Holland, had been involved in an accident and that the fight was cancelled. At the arena, I was interviewed by TV stations, newspapers, radio, etc., asking me what had happened. I did not have an answer, feeling the most humiliation and embarrassment I’ve ever felt in my life! I apologized to the promoter and to the Mexican public for something I had no control over and no fault. I did my best. I went back to the hotel, packed my belongings and headed back to Las Cruces not feeling an inch tall. Upon arriving at home, I called Eric Holland at his home. By this time it was 6 AM Saturday morning. His mother answered the phone and said he was asleep. He called me at 10 AM Saturday morning stating that he wanted to apologize but that he could not fight under the racial conditions that the promoters had publicized for the fight . . . too little, too late!

The time and money invested in preparing Eric for this fight, which included sparring partners, long distance phone bills, faxes and payment for corner help could not be compared to disappointment and humiliation felt by all of us who anticipated taking a title back to the USA. I believe neither Louie Burke nor myself should be punished or any action taken against us since we had no control over the situation. Louie Burke was not even present at the event, being in San Francisco with another fighter.

In my opinion, the only person responsible for this incident is the fighter Eric Holland himself.

He did not have the courtesy to tell anyone about his feelings, especially me, who he literally left holding the bags.

Sincerely,

Joe Hidalgo

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