Fighters Corner: Brent Bugarin

Q & A with the UCA 2012 Fighter of the Year, and NorCal Welterweight Champion, Brent Bugarin, Santa Clara Sheriff Department

On April 20, 2013 Brent Bugarin will be fighting Jorge Caamal, LASD for the UCA Welterweight State Title. Caamal relinquished his Jr. Middleweight #1 ranking to drop down to the welterweight division to challenge Bugarin for the  Title. The UCA caught up with the Undefeated Brent Bugarin to discuss his upcoming fight with  Jorge “The Baby Face Assassin” Caamal

1. Has your training and preparation for this fight been any different from previous fights?

Besides my mother’s Filipino home-cooked food for this fight, I trained primarily with Arvin Jugarap as opposed to his brother, Brian Jugarap, who I trained with for my previous fights.  I continued to work with both coaches throughout camp and I continued to get beat up by great amateurs at the Kennel Boxing Gym in San Leandro.  So, me being a moving heavy bag for other amateurs at the gym is not any different in preparing for this fight as it was for my previous fights.  

 2. Caamal started his training camp weighing 185lbs. Do you feel that big of a weight cut gives you an advantage? 

I don’t believe so.  I know Caamal has a lot of experience and has had a lot of fights in different weight classes throughout his career, so I know he and his team will manage his weight accordingly for this fight.  

3. Did you watch and study Caamal’s fight?

Yes, I watched his fight with another boxer from LAPD.  I did not get a chance to see his fight with other fighters.

 4. Did you pick up anything from watching it that will help you?

Caamal is a patient fighter who is explosive and powerful.  He is very intimidating and has an overbearing presence in the ring.  

5. Do you feel the mental aspect is as important as the physical aspect in preparing for a fight?

In all the sports that I have participated in throughout my life, the mental aspect is as important as the physical aspect in preparing for the fight.  

6. How do you prepare mentally for a fight?

In order to prepare mentally, I like to do yoga and pilates.  I also like to watch HGTV.  It helps me relax and visualize.  

 7. Is there anything that worries you about Caamal?

 Caamal has it all– power, speed, and lots of experience.  He is someone I would like to fight like some day.  He would not be a 3-time Police Olympics Gold Medalist for no reason.  

8. Do you feel you have an advantage in the fight?

I believe my advantage in this fight is that I will be fighting in the Bay Area, where I am from and where I work, so I have more pressure not to lose.  

9. Do you get nervous in the locker room waiting to fight?

I always get nervous in the locker room.  In order to relax, I like to listen to love songs.  I would watch HGTV, but they do not have a television in the locker room because everyone is so serious.  

10. What will you be thinking about as you walk to the ring? 

As I walk to the ring, I will think about not falling and embarrassing myself in front of everyone. 

11. What is your prediction?

 My prediction is that it will be a fun night for boxing not only for the real amateurs, but more importantly, for the public safety officers and their friends and family.  Wurdinger by decision.  

Good luck and congratulations