The latest about pac's sparring written by a pinoy journalist.
Pacquiao easy sparring target
Posted 11:39pm (Mla time) Mar 09, 2005
By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A25 of the Mar. 10, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
LOS ANGELES, California, United States of America -- An eager horde of Mexican media men were surprised to see Manny Pacquiao, described by his trainer to be in peak form, receive clear blows to the head during a sparring session yesterday at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Pacquiao, sluggish and slow, hardly resembled the sharp, ferocious Filipino knockout artist the Mexicans had come to see.
One Latino scribe walked away obviously convinced that Erik Morales was right in saying that Pacquiao was a one-dimensional fighter.
"Manny, Erik said you don't move inside the ring, you just stand still," the Mexican reporter had asked before Pacquiao started sparring.
"That's his opinion, we prepared long and hard for this fight," Pacquiao had countered.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, was quick to assure there was no need to worry.
Roach told the Inquirer that Pacquiao was "a hundred per cent and ready to go."
Roach would however sound like a big liar based on Pacquiao's lethargic stand against
his first sparring partner, Jose Sta. Cruz (18-0), a five-foot-eight full lightweight who simulated the fighting style of Morales.
Pacquiao worked the body well, but was often on the receiving end of Sta. Cruz's slow right hand, a flaw that had Puerto Rican cutman Lenny de Jesus shaking his head.
The second sparmate, Sugar Ray Beltran, often had to stop punching whenever Pacquiao would balk at mid-ring.
Beltran, strong and speedy, was allowed to belt at Pacquiao's abdomen as the sparring headed to an end.
Roach had to be asked if Pacquiao had any problem.
"Nothing," Roach said, "Manny was just playing with these boys."
Journalist Winchell Campos, who has been covering the training since early January, reported that several Pacquiao sparmates had to be decommissioned due to injuries.
But most members of the Mexican media that attended training yesterday walked away convinced that Pacquiao had been overrated.
Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao's trusted Filipino handler, however, explained Pacquiao was not supposed to box his best before the Mexican audience.
"Hindi puwedeng ipakita lahat (We were not supposed to bare all)," Fernandez said.
It was later said that spies from the Morales camp were able to squeeze themselves into the Mexican media group.
Yesterday's sparring session at Wild Card should help level the odds for the March 19 showdown, wherein Pacquiao has continued to be favored.
Pacquiao, who has promised the Mexican press a good, exciting fight, leaves for Las Vegas with his team on Monday.
Morales is expected at the fight site on the same day.
Pacquiao easy sparring target
Posted 11:39pm (Mla time) Mar 09, 2005
By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A25 of the Mar. 10, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
LOS ANGELES, California, United States of America -- An eager horde of Mexican media men were surprised to see Manny Pacquiao, described by his trainer to be in peak form, receive clear blows to the head during a sparring session yesterday at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Pacquiao, sluggish and slow, hardly resembled the sharp, ferocious Filipino knockout artist the Mexicans had come to see.
One Latino scribe walked away obviously convinced that Erik Morales was right in saying that Pacquiao was a one-dimensional fighter.
"Manny, Erik said you don't move inside the ring, you just stand still," the Mexican reporter had asked before Pacquiao started sparring.
"That's his opinion, we prepared long and hard for this fight," Pacquiao had countered.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, was quick to assure there was no need to worry.
Roach told the Inquirer that Pacquiao was "a hundred per cent and ready to go."
Roach would however sound like a big liar based on Pacquiao's lethargic stand against
his first sparring partner, Jose Sta. Cruz (18-0), a five-foot-eight full lightweight who simulated the fighting style of Morales.
Pacquiao worked the body well, but was often on the receiving end of Sta. Cruz's slow right hand, a flaw that had Puerto Rican cutman Lenny de Jesus shaking his head.
The second sparmate, Sugar Ray Beltran, often had to stop punching whenever Pacquiao would balk at mid-ring.
Beltran, strong and speedy, was allowed to belt at Pacquiao's abdomen as the sparring headed to an end.
Roach had to be asked if Pacquiao had any problem.
"Nothing," Roach said, "Manny was just playing with these boys."
Journalist Winchell Campos, who has been covering the training since early January, reported that several Pacquiao sparmates had to be decommissioned due to injuries.
But most members of the Mexican media that attended training yesterday walked away convinced that Pacquiao had been overrated.
Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao's trusted Filipino handler, however, explained Pacquiao was not supposed to box his best before the Mexican audience.
"Hindi puwedeng ipakita lahat (We were not supposed to bare all)," Fernandez said.
It was later said that spies from the Morales camp were able to squeeze themselves into the Mexican media group.
Yesterday's sparring session at Wild Card should help level the odds for the March 19 showdown, wherein Pacquiao has continued to be favored.
Pacquiao, who has promised the Mexican press a good, exciting fight, leaves for Las Vegas with his team on Monday.
Morales is expected at the fight site on the same day.
Comment