According to world-class trainer Danny Smith, there's no place like home.
Smith, who was born in Little Rock, has lived in Conway for the past three years after having traveled all across the nation. Smith left Arkansas to pursue a career of being a boxing trainer, and his wish came true. Prior to moving to Conway, he lived in Las Vegas and Hawaii for 16 years, while training top-notch boxers.
"Conway is a beautiful city," Smith said. "It's a good place to have a family. You don't hear about a lot of crime, and its a nice place to settle down. You can find real estate for a good price. Conway has a lot of things going for itself. ... I've seen a lot of places."
Boxing's inner circles are familiar with Smith, since he resurrected former light middleweight champion Fernando Vargas' career. Smith trained Vargas for two and-a-half years, starting in 2004. After a 15-month layoff, Vargas returned to the ring on March 26, 2005 to record a unanimous decision against the IBF No. 7 ranked Raymond Joval. Smith took Vargas into an August fight with two-time world champ Javier Castillejo later that year. After Vargas' unanimous decision victory, both he and his trainer were headed for a big pay-day.
Smith had Vargas at his peak during his first mega-pay-per view bout against a three-time world champion "Sugar" Shane Mosley in February of 2006. According to boxing reports, Vargas battled Mosley until the fight was stopped at the 1:40 mark in round 10 due to Vargas' eye that was swollen-shut.
"Fernando is a smart, ferocious fighter," Smith said. "Both of us helped out each other's careers. I'm thankful to have trained the many fighters that I've trained. It's been great to be able to support my two sons with a comfortable life. It took a lot of hard work and dedication on my part and the fighters' part to get to this point."
Smith's resume is decorated with champion fighter after champion fighter. Another one of Smith's bigger-named fighters were Steve Forbes and Diego Corrales. He began training Corrales in 2004, after the boxer was just released from a short prison term. Corrales, the former super featherweight and lightweight champion of the world, tragically died in 2007, almost a year after he parted ways with Smith.
Smith said that training big-name world champion boxers had plenty of perks.
"Man, I have seen plenty of stars," Smith said. "I met Charlie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and many others. People come to hang out in Las Vegas and watch the fights. It's nothing to see them in a restaurant or at some type of event."
Even though Smith has had a great career of training, he said he is by not through trying to train the next big name fighter. Currently, he is training the No. 2 cruiserweight in the world, James De La Rosa. De La Rose is 18-0 with 13 knockouts. Smith has the welterweight champion Ishe "Suger Shane" Smith in his corner. The light heavyweight champion of the world Rico Hoye, the IBF champion Carlos Hernendez, and upcoming stars D.J. Flores and Muhammad Abdubiah are all trained by Smith.
"All of those guys have worked hard to get where they're at," Smith said. "It's my job to make sure that they're in the best shape that they can possibly be in. People don't know all the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on to prepare for a fight. All people see is what they put on HBO."
Smith continued, "As a trainer, I have to make sure that the fighter's body is getting what it needs, the right amount of water and nutrition. I have to make sure the fighter keeps his weight exactly where it is supposed to be. There is so much that goes into one fight. But, training is my life, and I love it."
