US Broadcast Team Says Pacquiao is Special

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The renowned television commentating duo of Col. Bob Sheridan and Dave Bontempo who worked the Mano-A-Mano main event for a world-wide pay-per-view audience in the ABS-CBN coverage of the fights highlighted by the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios showdown, have said Pacquiao "is very special."

Sheridan said it was "a thrill for us" to come to the Philippines to do the Pacquiao-Larios fight and said "to see a fight like this and especially to come back to Manila after so many years is very, very exciting." Sheridan was in Manila for the Muhammad Ali- Joe Frazier "Thrilla in Manila' on October 1, 1975 also at the Araneta Coliseum.

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Although Pacquiao, the Filipino ring idol failed to score a knockout over the game and gallant Larios despite decking him in the seventh and twelfth rounds, the consensus was that it was an entertaining fight and Pacquiao showed he had matured as a fighter and the best is yet to come.

Relly de Leon, a member of Manny Pacquiao Promotions claimed Pacquiao had confided in him that he didn't want to knock Larios out because he was "a nice guy, very decent and he didn't want to hurt him also because he was a kind guest." Pacquiao apparently appreciated the manner in which Team Larios did their share in helping promote the fight and by his behavior and his performance in the ring won the hearts of many Filipinos.

Sheridan who has worked over 800 world title fights in an illustrious career just like Bontempo believes that Pacquiao has shown the way for other outstanding young fighters who, if handled properly, can become world champions.

Sheridan picked WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion and WBO No.1 Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista as the fighter with the greatest potential to follow in the footsteps of Pacquiao while he believes OPBF super flyweight champion Z "The Dream" Gorres who is also world-rated, is an excellent boxer with great skill.

Sheridan said both Bautista and Gorres have "world-class ability" and could step up to become world champions if handled correctly.