Ronnie Shields: “Now that Mayweather-Pacquiao is happening I think we’ll see more fighters from different networks fighting each other”

During the 232nd edition of “On The Ropes” boxing radio, I had a chance to speak to highly regarded boxing trainer Ronnie Shields. Shields has worked with boxers Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and many others during his training career and he now currently trains young of fighters such as Jermell and Jermall Charlo, who he hopes he can bring to a world title in 2015.

In part 1 of my interview with Ronnie Shields, I get his views on Jermell Charlo’s most recent win, and if he thinks Jermell is really for a title shot. I also get Ronnie’s thoughts on Jermall’s title changes and if they see a title shot next. Additionally, Shields talks about Erislandy Lara and shares his views on Mayweather vs. Pacquiao happening. Here is what Ronnie Shields had to say.

Jenna J: You recently took the Charlo brothers into the ring. Jermell Charlo was in the main event against Vanes Martirosyan, how do you evaluate his performance?

Ronnie Shields: Well, I gave him like a B+. I think we could have done a lot better with Vanes. Vanes is real a good fighter. He is an awkward fighter that is kind of hard to fight in certain instances, but I felt that Jermell could have fought a lot better if he would have went after him a little bet more. But you learn from experience, and I felt that he did enough to win. I had it six rounds to four — which I thought was way too close, but hey, you take the win as it comes.

Jenna J: You were very vocal in between rounds with Jermell. What things was he not doing in the ring that you weren’t happy with?

Ronnie Shields: Well the thing about it is, when I train a guy to fight a certain way, that’s the way I expect for him to fight in the fight, I don’t expect him to fight any different. If you train for eight weeks one way and then you get in the ring and fight a different way, that wasn’t the game plan. Finally after the sixth round he picked it up to the point to where I was somewhat satisfied but I wasn’t all the way satisfied.

I know what kind of fighter Jermell Charlo is, he’s a very good fighter, who possesses a lot of talents and I want him to express that in the ring, but he fought very tentative to me and so did Vanes. Vanes fought very tentative also and I wanted Jermell to really go after him and take it to him a lot more than he did. I just didn’t want him to score points and to score with good clean shots and then that’s it.

I felt that it should haven a lot better. He should have done a lot more but he didn’t, and that’s what really irritated me to the point where I had to really use strong words that he really understood. That’s the only thing that he understands basically, was just use strong words. I didn’t want to see him a blow fight that I know he was supposed to win.

Jenna J: Jermell has been in line for a title shot for a while. After this last performance do you think he’s fully ready to take that title shot?

Ronnie Shields: Well you know, I just have to sit back and go back and evaluate and see what I see. I haven’t had a chance to go back in and look at the fight again, but I will and I’ll take it from there. It’s all about who it is and what I feel we should do, so after I go back and evaluate it then I’ll see what the next step should be.

Jenna J: Jermall was supposed to initially fight Carlos Molina. Do you think he will get a title shot in his next fight?

Ronnie Shields: Well, that’s the plan. The plan if you win the mandatory you’re next for ‘K-9’ Bundage, and the mandatory is up in June. So either ‘K-9’ is gonna have to vacate or he is going to have to fight.

Jenna J: I want to talk about one of your other fighters that you’re known for training, that being Erislandy Lara. Can you let the fans know what the latest is with him?

Ronnie Shields: Well Erislandy is going to fight at the end of May. It will happen, we’re looking at May 29th right now. We don’t have an exact location just as of yet, and also we don’t have an opponent as of yet, but the plan right now is May 29th.

Jenna J: I want to talk about the current boxing scene a little bit. There’s a very big fight that’s going to happen on May 2nd, Mayweather vs. Paquiao. Were you surprised that this fight finally came together?

Ronnie Shields: No not at all, not at all. I mean, everybody knew this fight had to happen. I thought it would have happened a few years ago but obviously it didn’t but I think both guys really wanted it and I think when you’re looking at big names in this sport, people just think it’s the fighter, that the fighters just say “yes” that it’s just a go, but it takes much more than that to put on an event like May 2nd.

I think people have to understand that both guys have contract with different networks and there is so much that has to go into a fight that networks have to agree on every single thing, and it has nothing to do with the fighters.

I just think that both guys wanted it and have been wanting it, but at the same time they couldn’t get it because the networks just couldn’t agree on certain things. Now that it’s happening, I think we’ll see more fighters from different networks fighting each other now because I think now this fight is paving the way for it. Just as when Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson, I think that really paved the way for this fight.