Harry Callahan is the prototype of the quintessential tough cop.With his impressive 44 Magnum and unorthodox methods, the detective played by Clint Eastwood and known as ‘El Sucio’, strictly controlled the streets of San Francisco. Forty years later, a local police officer from Castellon left good old Harry looking like a ‘softie’: Eduardo Riego dared to lock himself in a cage with three fighters and emerged victorious from the challenge based on KOs. “It was really crazy, I don’t know how I came out alive,” admits this authentic wardrobe icon, with a height of 190 centimeters and a weight of over 100 kilos, built since the age of two in her parents’ gym.. Rigo is looking for new challenges: fighting Conor McGregor motivates him, “but with the difference in weight it won’t last long,” and he doesn’t mind a serious opponent, “a world champion.” At 35 and with the birth of a second daughter, Rigo wants to take another step in his career as a fighter. But before anyone dares to put on gloves against him, take advantage of the free time to play poker tournaments. Recently, he showed that he also has the potential to become a champion by finishing 97th in the Winamax Seismics held in Marrakech with a record participation of nearly 3,000 players.,
He became famous a few months ago for a fight against three where he also emerged victorious. Explain to us a little where this madness came from.
I have been fighting all my life, since I was two years old. My parents own a gym. The organizers of the evening had a two against one fight a year ago and were looking for someone who could dare to fight three against one. I was not the first choice. But they were looking for a profile similar to mine: a man weighing a hundred kilos, with experience and who is an MMA (mixed martial arts) professional. They wanted someone who had at least a chance against three people, less experienced and lighter.
How does one prepare for something like this?
Well, I started training with three students from my parents’ gym, who had more or less the same characteristics as my opponents. At first I was afraid because they saw that they were hitting me from all sides and if I covered one side they would hit me from the other. I realized that it was impossible. But the bug got to me. Even knowing that something like this had never been done. But I came to the conclusion that I had more to gain than to lose. If they hit me, the most that could happen to me is that they would knock me down. And no, I’m not afraid of that. I don’t like getting hit, but if they knock me down, I’ll get up, shake their hands and congratulate them. I can assume that they beat you in a fight three. It’s not humiliating. The important thing was to demonstrate my bravery. I almost got as close to it as I could samurai-wise. Or a challenge in my life, that three guys on the street wanted to kill me to rob me. That’s going to happen to me here, but at least they’re not going to rob me. They’re going to pay me.
How much time did they give you to prepare?
Two and a half months. I wasn’t exactly fit when they called me, but it was enough.
In fact, at the start of the fight, it looked like they were going to drop him on the canvas at any moment.
Absolutely yes. Things started off very badly. They started with a very good strategy. One grabbed me and didn’t let me move, the second hit me from the side and the third from the front. They were destabilizing me all the time. They planned a strategy. My whole plan went haywire. In the first round I realized that my strategy was useless. I wanted to get one out quickly so that I could focus on the other two, but it was impossible.
And then what did he do?
I have been fighting for a long time and I have a lot of resources. I decided to change tactics. If I can’t kill them all, at least I can kill one. And if they knock me out, we’ll both end up on the canvas. When I grabbed one by the neck, I said to myself, ‘If they kill me, you’ll come with me.’ When the first one fell, I started to see the light. But then, when there were two left, one grabbed me from behind, ‘Metalion’, which made me see stars. I somehow managed to get out and I knocked him down. With only one, and with my greater weight, everything was much easier.
What impact did this fight have on you?
Well, to start with, I had to cut down the capacity of my classes at the gym because we couldn’t all fit in. My followers on social networks grew tremendously.
What is your main quality in battle?
My knockout ability. I’ve disappointed a lot of people. I’ve had many fights where I’ve been losing, but in the end I let one hand go and beat my opponent. Maybe he was better than me, but I was able to hold him off.
Have you ever been knocked out?
Just one hit. And it turned out he was giving the guy a real beating at that point. Nine times out of ten I would have beaten him, but throughout the fight he kept leaving a hand on me that landed on my chin and put me on the canvas.
Does the UFC not appeal to you?
Strangely I never saw myself as a fighting professional. I studied building engineering and now I am a local police officer. It is very hard to make a living as a professional wrestler. Most of these professionals end up teaching classes in gyms. I know how hard it is because I have experienced it in my family. I would never risk everything on training and being a professional wrestler. I had exams and I was not going to train. I gave up fighting when I applied for the police. I have always put it in the background.
What is your record in MMA?
Very good. A 7/2. I have been the champion of Spain four times.’ I have performed four times. In Spain, they banned professionals from fighting in MMA because it is practiced by amateurs. Professionals were deprived of the opportunity to continue competing.
So then you refuse to dedicate yourself 100% to professional wrestling?
I’m about to become a father again (I have a daughter and am expecting another), I’m 35, and although I take care of myself, don’t drink or do drugs, I have other priorities in my life. If something good comes along… but I’m not looking for that either. I don’t even have a manager anymore. I no longer wish to make a living fighting as a professional.
Would you agree to pit yourself in the cage again against three rivals?
UFC suffers waiting for Topuria: “A crazy week”I honestly don’t believe it. It’s crazy and it’s even crazier to look at it from perspective. Let someone else do it if they have the balls. But I would like to face other challenges.
tell me something
Jordy Wilde wants to spend another evening and he proposed to me to fight again. But I don’t have anything locked down yet. It could be a different fight, without rules or without gloves, which attracts more attention. The problem is that it’s a bit harmful because they can cut your face a lot and it repels me. It’s not because I’m scared, I have stitches all over my body, but I don’t need to hurt myself anymore. If right now they proposed to me to fight the world champion of my weight I would accept it. I have trained with world champions and they have two arms, two legs and they don’t shoot beams from their eyes and they don’t fly. If you hit them on the chin they fall like other people and if you hit them on the brow they bleed too. The thing is that it’s more difficult to beat a champion. And if he connects with me, I’m sure I’ll kiss the canvas.
Why do you think they don’t want to cross you?
Because they have more to lose than to gain. They are more liked than other champions because there are more posters and money. Fighting against me is a difficult risk for many people to take. If they win it is normal and nobody values it, but if they lose, the consequences are cruel and they automatically reduce the purse for future fights.
Will a fight with Conor McGregor inspire you?
Clear. I would be happy to have a fight. Plus it’s quite ‘out there’ now. And it would be a good claim for money. The problem is that I don’t think he wants to fight me because we are different weights. He was a very good 66 kilos and I was 93 kilos in my ‘prime’. I don’t like to be cocky, but it’s clear he has nothing to do with me. Weight increases are very high in this type of fight.
And who will fight Mike Tyson against YouTuber Jake Paul?
Well, he will be something good too. He boxes well, but he is not a professional. I like the way he fights, but his level on the ground is not that good. I will accept it blindly.
Are you surprised by the explosion of fighting games among young people thanks to Ilya Topuria?
I’m a lot older than him. I know his wrestling teachers. I would love to meet him at a training session. ‘Chapeau’ for what he has done. Undefeated world champion. It’s clear this is a growing sport.
Aren’t you tempted by the prospect of participating in a ‘Survivor’ type show?
Well look, now that you mention it, yes I would love that. Not like ‘Big Brother’ or anything like that, but a place where survival strategies are used would be an exciting challenge. It’s a format that appeals to me.
What is it like to be a local police officer?
Very proud. I also teach tactics, strategy, safety and self-defense classes at the academy.
Tell us something about the medal you received for police merit…
It was a service that had become complicated. It was a simple accident, a truck on fire on the highway, and my partner and I decided to cut the highway. We knew it was the Civil Guard’s responsibility, not ours, but seeing how dangerous it was we decided to act, even jumping a fence to reach the accident site. First the car was blown to pieces and three or four seconds later there was a massive explosion. If that car had passed by, it would have been destroyed by the explosion. It was a miracle.
Apart from wrestling, you have another hobby that gives you immense joy, right?
I imagine this refers to poker.
Yes, tell me where this connection comes from
Well, the truth is that I’ve been playing since I was very young. When I was 16 I read several specific books and I really liked them. Think I really liked mathematics and with poker a universe opened up to me. At 18 I started playing in casinos. The level of the people at the tables was very entertaining. They were not professionals. I have several friends who have dedicated themselves to the world of poker. Last year I came fifth in a tournament in Torrelodones. And here in Marrakech with Winamax I have reached 97th place in the main tournament.
Have you played in Las Vegas?
Yes, I couldn’t enter any awards, but it was a great experience.
Are wrestling and poker so different?
Don’t believe it. Luck also matters in fighting and strategy also matters. For a world champion, winning 100 fights out of 100 is normal, but if you are intelligent, use your weapons and have a bit of luck, you can tip the balance. In both poker and fighting, you have to be very focused if you want to be good. The discipline and confidence factor is very important. And as I already mentioned, the luck factor also matters. A little more in poker, but not as much as people think.
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