By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine super featherweight champion Bobby Pacquiao figures in a must-win fight against Mexico’s Oscar Villa on November 12 in Los Angeles, prior to his scheduled showdown with hard-hitting, undefeated Dexter Delada on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao – Fahsang 3K Battery blockbuster fight card in an open air arena at The Fort in Taguig on December 11.
Then 26 year old Villa is regarded as a journeyman and has a poor fight record of 3-21-1 with 1 KO according to the website boxrec.com. Pacquiao’s opponent whose name at birth was Oscar Villa-Arrieta is coming off two good fights. He dropped a split decision to Jose Gonzalez last March 19 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles and then lost a six round decision to Jose Manuel Lopez on June 11 in Corona, California where he was dropped on one knee by what Villa protested was a low blow.
Pacquiao has been working out under the watchful eye of Freddie Roach at his Wild Card Gym in LA where Z “The Dream” Gorres also trained for over a month and returned home Wednesday after his scheduled bout with Marcos Badillo was cancelled. Roach was impressed by Gorres who in turn said he was enamored with the 2003 “Trainer of the Year” who gave him the self-confidence he needed to get to the top, internationally.
Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez said Gorres was sharp in sparring with top-class fighters and in one workout bloodied the nose of world-rated, undefeated flyweight Brian Viloria who subsequently refused to spar with the OPBF and Philippines No. 1 super flyweight. Fernandez in an overseas telephone conversation with boxing commentator Moy Lainez of “In This Corner” Thursday said Pacquiao was “in great shape and there is no need to worry about his upcoming fight” as indications are that Delada will be a much tougher opponent than Villa.
Pacquiao who first won the Philippine super featherweight title with a stunning eleventh round knockout over Renato Inal on June 15, 2002 is coming off a successful title defense in his fifth meeting with Baby Lorona Jr, winning a comfortable unanimous decision last July 21.
