‘Chepo’ Reynoso provides soundtrack for ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s training

Jose Reynoso can bring joy to a room just by whistling a tune.

Reynoso, who goes by “Chepo,” is the euphoric and wise trainer of boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

The elder statesman of Team Canelo can find happiness in any situation, no matter how intense the mood is. Lately, Reynoso hasn’t been flashing his trademark smile to keep Alvarez at ease before he defends his World Boxing Council middleweight title against Amir Khan on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

Chepo’s beam of joy comes from the birth of his newborn granddaughter. Lina Jeanette is the daughter of Eddy Reynoso, Chepo’s son and head trainer to Alvarez.

“One very important thing from this training camp is the birth of my son’s daughter,” Chepo Reynoso said Wednesday in Spanish during the final news conference of Alvarez-Khan. “That was an extra boost of motivation for Canelo and the team.”

The father-son duo of Chepo and Eddy have been guiding Canelo since age 13. The 25-year-old Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 knockouts) has 48 fights under his belt since turning pro at 15.

“He’s a fighter who’s grown, and we’ve grown along with him,” said Chepo Reynoso during an episode of HBO’s “24/7 Canelo-Khan.” “The situation has changed, but to us he’s still the same Canelo.”

Eddy Reynoso, 39, is the hands-on trainer, while Chepo oversees the training camp. It’s rare when Chepo speaks to the media. He lets his son do the talking.

Chepo became the head trainer for a week when Eddy left to Mexico last month for the birth of his second daughter and Chepo’s ninth grandchild.

There was a lot more singing during those workouts without Eddy, but the tough work ethic remained the same.

“We had training programs we needed to complete, and it was no problem,” Eddy Reynoso said about his dad filling in. “We have been together 12, 13 years now. We all know what to do.”

Alvarez has been featured on “24/7” multiple times, and Chepo’s persona is usually the highlight of the episodes.

Chepo enjoys singing Spanish songs during workouts, which often turn into duets with Alvarez.

Eddy Reynoso doesn’t mind the karaoke sessions as long as the training exercises are completed.

“That’s just the way we are,” the younger Reynoso said. “Any time we can enjoy work that’s a good thing. We’re all happy with that attitude in the gym.”

The relaxed demeanor from the Reynosos has rubbed off on Alvarez. The Mexican boxer has been under the spotlight for more than 10 years and hardly ever gets rattled, a trait he thanks his trainers for.

“I have the confidence to always come prepared,” Alvarez said. “I get more confidence from my training, and that gives me confidence for everything.”

Before there was Canelo, the red-headed, freckled kid from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, was known as Santos Saul Alvarez. The children in Alvarez’s neighborhood picked on him for his different looks, often leading to fights on the street.

Chepo wanted to turn that rage into something positive. He gave Alvarez the nickname Canelo, which means cinnamon in Spanish.

The new name caught on, and Alvarez was never made fun of again for his looks.

It’s rare for boxers to have the same trainers for more than a decade, especially an established one such as Alvarez. Chepo and Eddy have treated Alvarez like family, and the boxing sensation has repaid them with loyalty.

“When we started at the bottom together, we all had confidence in each other,” Eddy Reynoso said. “To this day we still have a tight bond.

“We’ve been lucky to work with a fighter who learns and who’s given us the support and loyalty that’s often lost in this sport.”

The Reynosos trust the young Alvarez like a seasoned fighter. They don’t need to push him to great lengths to remain focused. Alvarez takes his preparation seriously.

“My best years are still to come, and I will show a lot more from this moment on,” Alvarez said. “I haven’t displayed everything. So I’m working for that.

“I’ve already had some good fights before the age of 25. I’ve done a lot, but my best years are still to come.”

Chepo has molded Alvarez into the fighter he is today. The boxer relies less on his trainer, but that’s OK with Chepo.

Chepo has his hobby of growing fruits to keep him preoccupied. He has a strawberry garden outside his training camp home in San Diego that is beginning to sprout.

Adjacent to the strawberry garden, Chepo has a giant orange grove that took years to grow.

To put Chepo’s two hobbies into perspective, the orange grove signifies Alvarez’s first 10 years as a professional boxer. The junior strawberry garden represents what Alvarez calls his “best years to come.”

Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0492. Follow him on Twitter: @gmanzano24