This week’s portion is called “Acharei-Mot-Kedoshim” a double portion that begins with a recollection of the death of Aaron’s two sons Nadav and Avihu. In the spirit of a tribute to those who have left us, I want to honor the memory of one of my coaches, Juancho El Lagarto Ruiz, who trained me for a few years at the El Coqui Boxing Club in Newark NJ. I learned via Facebook that Juancho died this week.
I was a congregational rabbi who drove into Newark a few times a week to train at this small gym and to my surprise one of the trainers, Juancho was willing to work with me. Most trainers prefer to spend time with fighters who will turn pro and be worth the investment, but Juancho was generous with his time and worked with me frequently. His training was so good that I probably had the finest sparring session in my life, connecting with a big right uppercut to the chin of a young pro fighter who was in the ring with me.
But equally valuable was Jauncho’s stories about his training days in Panama with Roberto Duran and his stories about training the late Arturo Gatti-even claiming that he taught Arturo his famous left hook, the truth of which I have no doubt. In the Jewish tradition we revere our teachers, and so it is an honor to recall the life and work of Fighter and Trainer Juancho El Lagarto Ruiz, may his memory be a blessing.
From Rabbi Doug Sagal aka “the Boxing Rabbi”