It cannot be denied that the Philippines currently has world-class fighters, boxers who would start their careers in the homeland with a local trainer before eventually leaving them or demoting them when they wanted to step up. Take Pacquiao for exsample. The RING's #1 pound-for-pound fighter had to travel to the USA and seek a trainer who could take him to the next level. It's a routine that is no secret in the Philippine boxing community. With the way the boxing business is evolving in the Philippines and the number of fighters is growin, however, it is safe to say that world-class trainers are currently in the works. Joven Jimenez might exactly be one of them.
The 40-year-old trainer from Dangcagan, Bukidnon started boxing at the age of 10 years old and was at one point part of the Philippine national boxing team. Jimenez had 80 fights as an amateur and won national titles. In most cases, boxers with extensive amateur background would have no doubt stepped up to the pros, but Jimenez, by that time, had to take care of his family, so he opted to join the Philippine Navy in 1994 for a steady income. It was in the Navy that they were able to discover his potential as a trainer, something he was reluctant to do. "They forced me to be a trainer. I did not want it at first because I was a junior in the team, but they want me as a coach. When I became a coach, we were always champion in the national opens and AFP-PNP Olympics," said Jimenez.
Being a pro trainer is also something Jimenez did not plan or expect until he left the Navy in 2009. It was only by that time that he got the chance to train and manage professional boxers. Jimenez sees it as a blessing in disguise. He says, however, it's harder to be a pro boxing trainer because there will be times that he has to spend more time with his fighters than his family.
After just 3 years in the pro boxing scene, Jimenez is now being looked at as one of the best trainers, if not the best trainer, in the Philippines. This writer experienced it first hand, as an amateur boxer who had about 5 trainers to date. It did not take a minute to realize how good he is the moment he worked the mitts with me. Even with all the talk of how good of a trainer he is and how big the potential he has, he chooses to remain humble. "There are many good trainers here. I still have a long way to go," said Jimenez, who also mentioned Ala Villamor as one of the top trainers from the Philippines. "I don't aim to be the best trainer in the Philippines. I just want to help professional boxers," he added.
"As a trainer, I'm open to feedback that can be said about me. I also purchase and read books to expand my knowledge," explained Jimenez, who credits Freddie Roach and the Mayweather's as the best trainers in the world.
Joven Jimenez currently trains and manages 4 promising fighters, namely Froilan Saludar (15-0-1, 11KO'S), Adones Cabalquinto (11-0, 8KO's), Jerwin Ancajas (13-1, 5KO's) and Carlos Suello (6-0, 4KO's). He sees huge potential and talent in Filipino boxers and says that five years from now, he will be training a number of world champions.
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