Since bursting into the consciousness of hardcore American fight fans in 2001 with his 122-pound title victory over Lehlo Ledwaba, Manny Pacquiao has powered his way to the elite levels of professional boxing and sports in a meteoric rise that was as dramatic as it was electrifying.
Pacquiao, a former flyweight champ and a late substitute (for former 122-pound titlist Enrique Sanchez), was unknown to most U.S. fight scribes the night he entered the ring against Ledwaba. The majority of writers along press row were merely waiting for Oscar De La Hoya to get in the ring and take Javier Castillejo?s 154-pound title, however there was something special about Pacquiao?s ring entrance that night at the MGM Grand that caused even the most jaded journalist to look up from his laptop and take notice.
Pacquiao walked into the ring to Survivor?s ?Eye of the Tiger?, the early ?80s hit that was the theme song to Rocky III. Usually such walk-in music would be considered corny, but the intensity Pacquiao brought to the ring matched the song?s theme and before anyone knew what happened the respected South African titlist was picking himself off the canvas, struggling to breath through a badly broken nose. Since that night, Pacquiao has fought 13 times, taking on three current or former 122-pound titlists and three future hall of famers. During that five-year span, Pacquiao has knocked out two bona fide Mexican legends in Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales and he has engaged in at least three fight-of-the-year caliber fights (his 12-round draw with Juan Manuel Marquez and the first two bouts with Morales).
However, there is no doubt that the pinnacle of the Filipino hero?s career was his last fight, his electrifying destruction of Morales before 18,276 boisterous fans inside of the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas last November.
Although Morales had been stopped in their rematch and was 1-3 in his last four bouts (clearly a fighter on the decline), the dynamic and one-sided manner in which Pacquiao disposed of the former three-division champ not only clinched Fighter of the Year honors but prompted many boxing writers to supplant Floyd Mayweather Jr. with the Filipino superstar as the no. 1 fighter in the world, pound for pound.
It?s safe to say that Pacquiao, who is now a true icon in his native Philippines, can not get any higher in the sport of boxing terms of worldwide respect or any more popular in his home country.
But if this is true doesn?t than mean it?s downhill from here on out?
It?s no coincidence that Pacquiao was never sharper than he was for his rematch with Morales and never more vulnerable after that signature victory. The close points loss he suffered to El Terrible in their first fight forced him to clean up his promotional issues and close his training camp to all distractions. He regained his focus and the ?eye of the tiger? for the return match and he never looked better in the ring as he adjusted to Morales? style and game plan and then set a pace that eventually overwhelmed the future hall of famer. However, the adulation and riches he gained following that victory didn?t do him any favors going into a perceived ?easy? bout with Oscar Larios in Manila. Larios, who was coming off a loss and was completely unproven at 130 pounds, was expected to get blown out in one or two rounds. However, when Pacquiao, who insisted on training in the Philippines, failed to blast out the Mexican vet in the opening stanzas, he (and every Filipino fan watching the bout live) got a scare in the third round when he was rocked by a left hook against the ropes.
So should Pacquiao fans be nervous about their fighter?s next bout, an April 14th assignment in San Antonio against the unknown but unbeaten (32-0-2) Jorge Solis, a fighter who is naturally bigger and younger than Larios?
The distractions that Pacquiao experienced prior to the Larios fight pale in comparison to the distractions and complications he?s dealing with now. His head trainer, Freddie Roach, the man who has guided his career and helped him develop since that breakthrough bout against Ledwaba, is in Puerto Rico preparing De La Hoya for his May 5th showdown with Mayweather. Roach has not been with Pacquiao for the duration of his training camp for Solis.
And during the month of February and the early part of March, when he could have been at Roach?s Hollywood gym getting in work with his trusted coach, Pacquiao was back home setting his sights on what could be his next career ? politics.
From late November to this past January, Pacquiao toyed with the intention of running for vice-mayor of Manila before unfavorable public sentiment caused him to reconsider. For a brief period there were rumors that he would run for mayor of his hometown, General Santos City, however, in February he announced that he was running for congress representing South Cotabato, the province of the Philippines that contains General Santos City.
Pacquiao and his political backers are serious about this election, which takes place one month after the Solis fight, and they need to be if they expect to win the congressional seat. The incumbent congresswoman is part of a South Cotabato political dynasty and the family has not lost an election in 20 years.
So aside from his many business interests, which range from clothing companies to lottery outlets, Pacquiao has been campaigning while preparing for Solis at home and this has delayed his coming to the States to train until just a few weeks ago.
In fact, at the end of this week Pacquiao will have only trained three complete weeks in Los Angeles ? and he hasn?t looked particularly sharp during his sparring sessions at the Wild Card Boxing Club.
?The focus is not there,? said MaxBoxing?s own Steve Kim, a Wild Card regular who has been present for numerous workouts before Pacquaio?s signature bouts and has witnessed at least three 10-round sparring sessions during the Solis camp. ?Manny?s just going through the motions in sparring. He?s like a football player who is just wants to get though camp.
?He?s not putting in nearly the kind of effort he did for Morales. I think this will look like the Larios fight if [Solis] is as durable as Larios is.?
Rudy Hernandez, the trainer of lightweight contenders Jose Armando Santa Cruz and Urbano Antillon ? both of whom have provided Pacquiao with quality rounds of sparring in past camps ? doesn?t believe the perceived lack of spark in training or the distractions will make any difference on April 14th.
?At the end of the day, Manny is still Manny,? said Hernandez, who has brought the 5-foot-10 Santa Cruz to the Wild Card gym three days a week for the past two weeks to help Pacquiao prepare for the tall and rangy Solis. ?Solis is not the guy to beat him. Pacquiao wouldn?t lose to Solis on his worst day.?
GYM NOTES
This fight scribe was at the Wild Card gym last Thursday to check out one of Pacquiao?s sparring sessions, which have consisted of 10 rounds that are split up between three young fighters ? tough and rangy lightweight contender Jose Armando Santa Cruz, brash junior welterweight David Rodella and a relatively unknown prospect from Australia named Lenny Zappagina.
Rodella, a tall banger with quick hands but an often wild style, usually starts the sessions off giving Pacquiao four rounds of work before the more seasoned Santa Cruz steps in for another hard four rounds of work leaving the inexperienced Zappagina to provide the final two ?cool off? rounds. However, on this day, Rodella, who holds a 6-1-2 (4) record, got stuck in traffic during his commute from Oxnard, so Santa Cruz started the cycle off.
The gym was busy that day, as it usually is. Kim and MaxBoxing video producer Brian Harty (who was allowed to capture the final two rounds with Zappagina) were there. Trainers Justin Fortune, Macka Foley, Eric Brown and Pepper Roach were there. Fighters Vernie Torres and Roger ?Speedy? Gonzalez were there. Manager Billy Keane, who I talked to during most of Pacquiao?s sparring session, was there. I?m going to provide my notes on the 10 rounds that took place that day, but if you?re unsure of my observations than feel free to track down any of the names I?ve just listed and get their takes on the session that took place on March 29th.
Here are my notes:
Santa Cruz, 24-2 (13), is the first to step in the ring with Manny. They?ve worked together before as the aggressive and rangy brawler was perfect for PacMan?s preparation for Morales.
In the first two rounds, there?s more footwork and upper-body movement from Pacquiao than I?ve seen in past fights and sparring sessions. His constant footwork kept Santa Cruz off-balance until he stopped in spots to drop hard and (of course) fast three-and-four punch combinations. Santa Cruz?s only defense for these furious flurries was to cover up in center ring, but he was able to block most of the head shots in this manner. Still, if I were scoring these two rounds, they would go to Manny, who landed a number of hard body shots during the six minutes of fast-paced work.
In the third round, Santa Cruz began to do more than stalk Pacquiao, he started letting his hands go and got immediate results as a left hook combination to the body and head landed in the opening seconds of the round. Santa Cruz followed that up with a left uppercut-right hand combination that snapped Pacquiao?s head back and drove him into a corner. Santa Cruz bulled forward and scored with right hands while Pacquiao covered up for a few seconds before spinning out of harm?s way. Pacquiao gave ground for the next minute, trying to block Santa Cruz?s incoming shots but failed to get off himself. It?s obvious that Pacquiao is not the same fighter when in retreat and Santa Cruz, who isn?t the most technically sound fighter in the world, was able to land his jab and select body shots at the close of the round. If I were scoring this round of the sparring session it have belonged to Santa Cruz.
In the fourth round, both boxers came out of their corners in a more measured manner, jabbing and looking for openings to exploit. One thing that was noticeable at this point of the session was the heavy breathing from Pacquiao. Normally, his stamina is not even a factor during sparring, as he seems to have an endless supply of energy, but on this day he was huffing and puffing after three rounds of ring work. Although it?s obvious that he?s in good physical condition, the hard breathing made me wonder if he?s in ?fighting shape?. After eating a jab, Pacquiao got off with a hard one-two combination that almost seemed to answer my question. Pacquiao backed Santa Cruz up with a series of rapid-fire one-twos that were partially blocked by the young man but nonetheless opened him up for PacMan?s body shots. Santa Cruz sucked it up and fired off single right hands that landed before quickly returning to his high guard to block Manny?s retaliation. Pacquiao dug deep in the final minute of the fourth round, getting off with four- and five-punch volleys, but Santa Cruz kept his cool under fire and landed single power shots that landed flush and caused the Filipino icon?s head to snap back. It was exhilarating stuff and if I were scoring this round, I?d probably call it even.
Rodella, a former amateur standout who has struggled as a pro but has obvious talent, arrived during Santa Cruz?s rounds with Pacquiao. He quickly got into his sparring gear and hopped into the ring when it was his turn. After an easy first round (round five for Manny), Rodella stepped up the intensity and charged Pacquiao with a hard left hook combination to the body and head that was followed by a right to the head that landed while Pac was against the ropes. Pacquiao answered back with single power shots, but didn?t switch to a higher gear or allow himself to be drawn into a firefight despite the confidence that was growing in Rodella.
In the first two minutes of the third round (round seven for Manny), Pacquiao worked on defense, concentrating on footwork and counter punching with body shots. However, in the final minute of the round, Pacquiao rocked Rodella with a blinding three-punch combination to the head. He benevolently backed away from the buzzed youngster and allowed the boy to gather his wits. I guess he just wanted to let Rodella know that he?s still ?the man?.
At the start of the fourth round (round eight for Manny), Pacquiao really let Rodella know what it?s like to be in the ring with an elite fighter, swarming the Oxnard resident with lightening-fast haymakers from all angles, but then, just as suddenly as he attacked the prospect, he took his foot off the gas pedal and played with the novice for the rest of the round.
The final two rounds were more of the same from Pacquiao, who alternated between dancing away from his sparring partner, Zappagina, and leaning against the ropes and inviting the Aussie of Italian descent to bang away at his mid section.
Zappagina, a young boxer with a reported 6-0 record, was game but clearly out-classed by Pacquiao. He simply did not have the power, experience or attitude to push the former three-division champ beyond a playful relaxed mode of sparring. Still, the young man was able to occasionally land clean left hooks to Pacquiao?s noggin, something that disturbingly did not seem to bother the veteran fighter.
The final analysis of Pacquiao?s performance in my notes read like this:
?Pac?s speed is there, but his technique is not as sharp as it could be. There?s more ?loop? to his punches, more clubbing shots, than I?m used to seeing from him. He appears to be working on his body attack, which he utilized to good effect while sparring with Santa Cruz and Rodella. However, he can be countered while he commits to the body and he?s vulnerable when backing up and when he?s up against the ropes. I don?t know if Jorge Solis is an aggressive or powerful enough fighter to take advantage of Pacquiao?s obvious lack of focus and technique. We?ll find out in a week and half.?
JORGE LINARES
There were internet rumors that featherweight contender Jorge Linares, who has provided the PacMan with top-notch gym work in the past, would be in Southern California and available to help Pacquiao prepare for Solis and the 21-year-old marvel did indeed fly in from his home in Tokyo this past Saturday.
I was told by Rudy Hernandez, who picked Linares up from the airport (and has a long-standing relationship with the Venezuelan featherweight?s Japan-based promoter, Akihiko Honda), that Linares would spar with Pacquiao on Tuesday of this week.
However, although Justin Fortune, Manny?s head trainer for the Solis bout, had agreed to it, Pacquiao had other ideas, opting to spar with his usual partners (Santa Cruz, Rodella and Zappagina).
Why he turned down Linares is anyone?s guess. Maybe he feels like he?s in good enough condition for Solis as it is and doesn?t need to add anyone new to his sparring rotation. Or maybe he knows he isn?t as sharp as he usually is and given the tough rounds Linares has given him in past training camps he simply didn?t feel like dealing with the kid this past Tuesday. Or perhaps Pacquiao thinks that Linares is in town to spy on him for countryman and promotional stablemate Edwin Valero, the WBA 130-pound titlist who has been mentioned as a future opponent. Who knows?
What is known is that Linares flew 12 hours to work mitts at the Wild Card gym instead of engage in world-class sparring with Manny Pacquiao like he had hoped.
?I paid more attention to Jorge working the mitts than Manny?s sparring session,? said Steve Kim, who was at the Wild Card this past Tuesday. ?That kid puts on a show.?
Linares, who sports a 23-0 (14) record and exhibits the kind of technique and all around ring generalship that belies his youth, will make his U.S. debut on the non-televised portion of the May 26th (Boxing After Dark) card headlined by the InJin Chi-Oscar Larios WBC featherweight title bout.
Linares is rated no. 4 among featherweights by the WBC but should advance to a higher rating very soon since the sanctioning organization?s no. 1 contender, Larios, is getting his title shot, no. 2 (Solis) is fighting Pacquiao at 130 pounds and no. 3 (Rodolfo Lopez) just got KTFO by unheralded Japanese contender Naoki Matsuda. Although Linares is stoked to be fighting on the undercard of a major U.S. promotion for the first time in his career, he believes that he?s ready for main event status, particularly the two fighters who are headlining the May 26th show that will take place in Anaheim, California.
?Today, tomorrow, or whenever, I feel that I?m ready for Chi or Larios or [WBA featherweight titlist] Chris John,? Linares said after a workout at the Maywood Boxing Club on Wednesday of this week. ?I don?t think they are anywhere near as good as Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera and I?ve handled myself well with both Manny and Marco in sparring.?
Linares was hoping to get more gym work in with Pacquiao on his most recent trip to Southern California but it looks like he will have to settle with two of Rudy Hernandez?s fighters ? Eduardo Escobedo and Urbano Antillon. Linares went three rounds with Escobedo, a 23-year-old featherweight prospect from Mexico with a 19-2 record, on Monday of this week and three bruising rounds with Antillon, a 24-year-old lightweight contender with an 18-0 record, on Wednesday of this week.
This fight scribe was present for Wednesday?s sparring session, which took place at the city of Maywood?s boxing gym (along with video producer Brian Harty, who taped all three rounds for your entertainment), and because I think Antillon is one of the more exciting young fighters to watch on TV and I believe that Linares is a future world champion, I will provide you with my notes on those four rounds.
(You can thank me later.)
Round one ? Linares wastes no time with ?feeling out? maneuvers, he steps forward with a quick and sharp jab and lays it on Antillon, snapping the local fighter?s head back with straight lefts and uppercuts from both hands. Linares, who controls the distance with his snappy jab, never stops moving while outside of Antillon?s limited reach. He doubles and triples the jab as he steps to either side, but Antillon keeps pressing forward, undeterred. Before Antillon gets close enough to put hands on him, Linares stops on a dime and drops a three-punch body-head combinations that buzzes the older fighter.
Antillon doesn?t care. He redoubles his efforts and applies even more pressure in the final minute of the round.
Round two ? It?s clear that Linares has the edge in hand speed and punching technique. He gets off first and he seems to land at least 75% of what he throws. But Antillon is a battled tested, stubborn sort. He?s not discouraged by unfavorable punch-stats or a little pain and mid-way through the round, he finally closes the gap long enough to land a straight right hand and hard single left hooks to the right side of Linares? body. Antillon bulls the matador backwards into a corner where he hopes he can land a solid combination, but Linares leans and twists away from most the shots and blocks the others before the bell rings.
Round three ? Linares can?t miss with his uppercuts. He makes Antillon look like a bobble-head doll, but the brawler pressures the boxer into the ropes where a series of body shots and right hands are released in frustration. It?s a good moment for Antillon but Linares is hard to nail with clean shots. The Tokyo-based Venezuelan blocks and parries many of Antillon?s punches with his forearms and gloves. I can think of a few old-time trainers, most of whom are no longer with us, who would have been proud of the kid?s defensive skill.
After the three rounds with Antillon, Linares went three less-intense rounds with Brian Ramirez, a 2-0 (2) featherweight prospect from Chihuahua, Mexico. The 20-year-old L.A. resident, who is trained by Javier Capetillo (Antonio Margarito?s coach), went three rounds with Antillon before Linares stepped in and appears to have talent. He?ll be forced to grow up fast at the Maywood Boxing Club and he might be one to watch in a year or two.
RANDOM NOTES
While Linares was shaking out after his Wednesday sparring session at the Maywood Boxing Club, Russian cruiserweight contender Vadim Tokarev, a dead ringer for actor Russell Crowe, walked into the gym with his trainer Edward Goumachian and stablemate Rustam Nugaev, a promising lightweight prospect. Tokarev, a 35-year-old warhorse who is coming off impressive early round stoppages of Felix Cora Jr. and Shane Schwartz, is scheduled to face 22-year-old former kickboxing standout Mario Huck for the vacant IBF title in the German?s hometown of Bielefeld, Germany on May 5th.
MaxBoxing will try to get some sparring footage of Tokarev, 23-0-1 (16), before he leaves for Germany.
After watching Linares (and his younger brother Carlos, a 6-foot welterweight who is still an amateur) and Tokarev (along with Nugaev) workout, Brian Ramirez quipped:
?Wow, we got Venezuelans from Tokyo and Russians who live in L.A. in the house; if we can just get a few more Mexicans to train here this would be a real gym.?
***
Roger ?Speedy? Gonzalez, who was spotted at the Wild Card gym last week, will return to the ring after a two-year layoff when he headlines a club show at the Maywood Activity Center next Friday (April 13th).
Gonzalez, a former bantamweight prospect with a 25-1 (17) record (his only loss was to current titlist Jhonny Gonzalez), will take on Filipino vet Allan Visayas, 21-6 (15), in an eight-round junior lightweight bout. The card, which is promoted by Sal Ramirez?s Torito Promotions, begins at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.). For tickets (which start at $35) call 323-419-6534 or 323-422-5104.
