Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao did one familiar thing during his build-up for his April 14 showdown with Jorge Solis: knock down his sparmate.
Last Thursday, Pacquiao sent down sparmate Jesar Ancajas in the second round during their sparring session at Rey Golingan’s ABAP Boxing Gym in General Santos City, prompting Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez to look for one more sparmate to help simulate the Mexican’s style.
“Ancajas was knocked down in the second round. Manny hit him with a good shot,” said Fernandez in a long-distance interview yesterday.
Aside from Ancajas, also providing needed sparring rounds to Pacquiao is RP-ranked Aaron Melgarejo, who is himself girding up for his title duel on April 8 in Cebu City.
Fernandez, however, revealed that he needs to add one more sparmate to the training camp, as both Ancajas and Melgarejo seemed to lack the toughness to hang on with Pacquiao.
“I am expecting another boxer, Arniel Tinampay, to arrive in a few days. The two cannot keep up with Manny, so I have ordered one more boxer,” Fernandez revealed, stating that Cebuano promoter Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud is tasked to locate Tinampay and send him to General Santos City.
Today, Pacquiao is set to resume sparring with the Ancajas and Melgarejo for eight rounds, after doing seven rounds last Thursday.
Pacquiao did not spar yesterday, but reported to the gym for bag works, hitting the mitts, skipping rope, as well as hitting the double-end bag.
“We are not looking past Solis. We know he will come into the fight with everything he’s got because he is fighting Manny Pacquiao. But we will be ready for him,” Fernandez said.
ARROYO TO AWARD ‘BOOM BOOM’, AMONSOT TODAY
Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista and Czar Amonsot, both from Tagbilaran City, are slated to receive the Young Boholano Achievers award today from no less than Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for their outstanding exploits in boxing.
The power duo will get their awards at the awarding ceremony today starting at 1:45PM inside the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex. They will be accompanied by Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri-Lim.
The event is part of the two-day Bohol Youth Day Celebration, with Arroyo as its Guest of Honor, said Young Boholano Achievers Screening Committee Chairman Benjie Oliva.
“The program aims to foster camaraderie and friendship among Boholano young people, present to the provincial officials the Bohol Youth Development Plan, keep abreast of the recent development efforts on youth development, recognize young Boholano achievers and to officially launch the Green Philippine Program (EO 579) of Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Barkada Kontra Droga program of the Dangerous Drugs Board,” said the official invitation sent to both Bautista and Amonsot, through boxing patron Antonio L. Aldguer.
Bautista, who is set to see action on May 5 underneath the De la Hoya-Mayeather card, holds the WBO Intercontinental and WBO Asia Pacific Youth superbantamweight titles, which he won with a stunning third-round demolition of Mexican Marino Gonzalez last February 24.
Amonsot had also won the WBO Asia Pacific lightweight title against a Korean foe recently in Seoul, South Korea.
Bautista and Amonsot are currently training at the ALA Gym, and both are set to depart for Bohol early today. They will return to Cebu to continue their training the day after.
Bautista has recently purchased a house in Tagbilaran City, which he said will now be his official home.
“Everytime I go home to Bohol, I will be staying in my house in Tagbilaran where I am most welcome. When I’m in Cebu, my sister and brother will take care of my house,” Bautista told Philboxing
