At the 33rd edition of the Olympics, Mexico closed the medal tally with 5 medals—3 silver and 2 bronze. Among the silver medalists, along with the judoka Prisca Awiti Alcaraz, divers Juan Celaya, and Osmar Olvera, boxer Marco Verde stood on the podium, making his country proud. For a country with deep-rooted boxing traditions and a Hall of Fame roster containing some of the most well-known athletes in the sport, it was a groundbreaking achievement since 1984.

Verde received widespread applause. However, one that would have meant the most to him must have been from the face of boxing, Canelo Alvarez. Now the laudation and support seem to have expanded further. Several reports suggest that Marco Verde has joined the stable of Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso. Fans can expect news about his decision regarding professional boxing soon.

Marco Verde: A New Journey with an Illustrious Team

“Big news for Team Canelo. Olympic Silver Medalist and highly rated amateur Marco Verde will now be managed by Eddy Reynoso,” read the message from Boxing Kingdom. The photo featured Verde standing by Eddy Reynoso’s side.

On his part, the 2023 Pan American gold medalist expressed his confidence in the veteran trainer’s expertise and vision. Verde revealed that Eddy Reynoso will be his manager and representative as he takes his first steps in the professional world. However, he would continue his training in his hometown, Mazatlán, with Radames Hernandez remaining his head trainer.

The reports about the future of boxing in the next edition of the Games appear to have weighed heavily on Marco Verde. Perhaps he hopes to upgrade his silver medal to a gold medal-winning performance. Nevertheless, doubts persist. He said, “I will wait until 2025 to find out whether Olympic boxing continues or not.”

Soon he received a response from Canelo Alvarez’s longtime trainer. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with a successful and disciplined athlete. In Marco Verde, Mexico has a future world champion,” said Reynoso. The trainer’s claim to fame may stem from his association with Canelo Alvarez. But the multi-award-winning trainer boasts a solid roster. It includes both former and existing world champions, including Andy Ruiz Jr., Ryan Garcia, and Julio Cesar Martínez.

Chasing Legacy: Olympics to Professional Arena

Given his country’s rich boxing tradition, it’s no wonder that Marco Verde follows a legacy that commenced when his father competed at the Barcelona Olympics. Verde began his Olympic campaign with a tightly contested win against Mozambique’s Tiago Muxanga.

Though he had to concede the first round, Marco Verde went on to claim the remaining two rounds to score a quarterfinal win over India’s Nishant Dev. Though the semifinal against England’s Lewis Richardson proved yet another tough nut to crack, the sturdy Mexican sailed through. However, the pedigree of the Uzbek Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev proved too much to handle, thus leaving him with a silver medal.

Regardless of the decision made regarding Olympic boxing, Marco Verde may have made a prudent choice to start his professional career under experienced guidance. It might be too early to speculate on the division he would enter. But if one could hazard a guess, then it would likely be one of the lower divisions. Given the roster of some well-known names there, Verde may eventually get a chance to fight in some high-profile bouts.

What is your gut feeling? Will boxing feature in LA28?