Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has detailed the severe toll Aaron Pico took on sparring partners at the gym, describing partners leaving with broken ribs, orbital bone fractures, and knockout-level knockdowns during sessions. Partners regularly refused to continue working with Pico even for financial compensation, and the situation eventually caused a rift with Steve Garcia, with the two top fighters training separately after multiple injuries. Pico has since been training largely in Morocco, where a well-funded camp provides him world-class partners, though he was recently spotted at Cub Swanson's California gym.
Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has gone on record describing the extraordinary — and often damaging — effect Aaron Pico had on sparring partners during his time at the renowned Albuquerque gym, painting a picture of sessions that left training partners with broken ribs, orbital bone fractures, and knockdowns severe enough to end rounds early.
Pico, 29, carries a 14-5 professional record and brings a rare combination of athleticism and aggression to the gym floor. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, the orthodox American generates nearly four significant strikes per minute with a takedown rate of nearly nine per fifteen minutes — numbers that suggest the kind of relentless, multi-dimensional pressure that makes him a difficult puzzle even for seasoned professionals. According to Lyubimov, the damage Pico inflicted became so consistent that partners regularly declined further sessions even when offered financial incentives.
That situation eventually fractured the working relationship between Pico and fellow Jackson-Wink fighter Steve Garcia. The two began training separately following multiple injuries, a notable rupture given both men call the same gym home. Garcia, nicknamed "Mean Machine," holds a 19-6 record and is one of the more active strikers in his division, landing 5.39 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. At 34, the six-foot southpaw brought serious credentials to those shared sessions.
Pico has since relocated the bulk of his training to Morocco, where a well-resourced camp has assembled world-class sparring partners capable of matching his intensity. He was recently spotted at the California gym run by veteran featherweight Cub Swanson, who at 42 maintains a 31-14 record and has spent years among the sport's elite.
Why it matters
- The reported fallout at Jackson-Wink raises questions about long-term team dynamics for both Pico and Garcia
- Pico's relocation to Morocco suggests his primary training base may have effectively shifted away from the gym he is still formally affiliated with
- Swanson's gym appearance hints at Pico broadening his preparation network ahead of future competition
