I first met Alex in 1995 in Fairtex, Arizona.

We roomed together, trained together, hung out in the off time.

When Arizona ended, Alex told me of his plans to hopefully try to get Fairtex started again in San Francisco. I was going to move to Los Angeles, Alex asked if I had wanted to be a part of the San Francisco gym. Of course I did, so he told me to hang tight, as things would come together soon.

Eventually, he got started-the first San Francisco Fairtex was ran out of a restaurant/club named "Big Heart City". Alex had me come up for a few weeks while he left to go to Ireland( to corner Jean Claude Leuyer). I stayed at his apartment on California St. with Ganyao, head trainer from Fairtex. Alex took me to the Presidio(an old army base) one day and told me of his plans, how he wanted to turn Fairtex into a big, well known name-a name synomonous with Champions....he told me of his own desire to be a world champion. His sincerity and drive and desire was undeniable.

I returned to L.A. for a few months, untill things were ready. Alex contacted me again-he had the Clementina St. gym ready and wanted me to come up. I did. For a week-but I couldn't stay-Things had changed for me, and staying in SF just wasn't possible.