When Manny Pacquiao plunges into sparring with dance mate Tim Tszu today, he and boxing fans as well would be reminded of one of the key moments of his career that would later define what he is now as a prizefighter.
The now 40-year-old is currently in deep training for his coming WBA welterweight title confrontation with American Keith Thurman on July 20 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
On this 8th day of June 17 years ago in year 2002, Pacquiao fought and knocked out Jorge Julio before a large audience the match being a co-feature of the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson main event for the WBC/IBF/IBO/The Ring/lineal heavyweight championships held at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee.
Advertisements The then young, 24-year-old Pacquiao, who was fighting for only the third time in US soil, stopped the then two-time world champion Colombian in the second round to keep his IBF super-bantamweight title he won a year earlier for the second time.
The now Philippine Senator wrested the plum from South African Lehlo Ledwaba on June 23, 2001 and defended it for the first time against Agapito Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in a very dirty encounter that ended in a technical draw in sixth round.
The Pacquiao-Julio title showdown was the seventh for the Filipino in the month of June, five of which he won, all via short route, and losing one.
Pacquiao?s only loss in those seven fights in the month of June came, ironically, also this month, June 9, 2012, in a controversial split decision to Timothy Bradley everybody, except for the two judges, thought he won.
Against Julio, Pacquiao started like a whirlwind consistently beating his opponent to the punch with his speed and quickness that stood out.
He sent the Colombian on the seat of his pants twice in the second round bloodying the enemy?s nose in the process.
Although Julio was able to get up both times, Manny rocked him relentlessly with left and right combinations forcing referee Bill Clancy to stop the carnage at 1:09 mark of the period.
?I hope that people will now start respecting me a little more,? the then soon-to-be eight division champ said after his big win.
Before bowing to Pacquiao, Julio had never been stopped in his career, although entering this fight, had dropped two of his previous four bouts including a decision loss to Johnny Tapia two years earlier.
Other Pacquiao victories in the month of June were over Bert Batiller (TKO in 4th), Chokchai Chokwiwat (KO 5th) for OPBF flyweight title, Sungkwon Chae (TKO 1st) and David Diaz (TKO 9th) for WBC lightweight diadem.
Over the course of his decorated career, Pacquiao has defeated more than 20 world champions ? Chatchai Sasakul, Ledwaba, Julio, Marco Antonio Barrera (twice), Erik Morales (twice),
Oscar Larios, Jorge Solis, Juan Manuel Marquez (twice), Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley (twice), Chris Algieri, Jessie Vargas, Lucas Matthysse and Adrien Broner.
