Trainer Mark DeLuca sees junior lightweight Abraham Nova’s upcoming fight against Humberto Galindo as pivotal. More is on the line than just a victory at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York.
To prepare, DeLuca shook up the camp by having Nova train alongside title contender Jamaine Ortiz, who fights Friday, and Ortiz’s coach, the Cuban trainer Lester Diaz, in hopes of pushing Nova to his best.
Now 30, Nova, 23-3 (16 KOs), faces a career crossroads following two tough losses, including a disputed decision to Andres Cortes and a split-decision defeat to former champion O’Shaquie Foster in January. For Nova, Saturday is a test that could permanently alter the direction of his career.
DeLuca’s collaborative approach in camp provided both Nova and Ortiz with intense sparring and fresh perspectives.
“It’s tough, you know? Abraham’s coming back, and I have style, every coach has a style and Abraham is coming back and he is knowing what is going to happen,” DeLuca said. “So bringing in Ortiz and his coach just threw a bit of a monkey wrench into things—in a good way. It keeps things from getting redundant, and hearing the same thing from a different voice always hits differently.”
In fact, DeLuca says Nova found it refreshing when Diaz would echo DeLuca’s advice, like reminding him to work the jab. “Abraham and I laugh a couple times that Jamaine’s trainer would say the exact same thing I said,” DeLuca said. “And Abraham would be like, ‘Did you hear what he said? He said to jab more.’
“It’s good, because when he trains with other trainers or other teams it gives him a little confidence, being like, alright, they’re seeing the same shit Mark is seeing. So that’s good and maybe they see some shit I don’t see. And so it was just good training with him.”
Nova’s opponent, Galindo, 14-3-2 (11 KOs), hails from Tijuana, Mexico, and has a reputation as a tough competitor. Known for dropping lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla in March 2023 before succumbing to a stoppage in the later rounds, the 24-year-old represents a stern test before a big opportunity. DeLuca, however, has a measured take on the opponent.
“There’s nothing too flashy about him, nothing outstanding, but he’s definitely coming to fight,” DeLuca said. “Abraham has to be the best version of himself to beat this kid.”
For DeLuca, all that preparation comes down to one thing: keeping Nova controlled without losing his aggressive edge.
“It’s hard to change a zebra’s stripes,” Nova said. “Abraham is going to come out aggressive. I’d like to see him be more patient with it, but once that bell rings, anything can happen.”
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