Shoe business. That?s what caused Manny Pacquiao not to look so hot in hirst fight against Juan Manuel Marquez according to Sampson Lewkowicz, the globetrotting adviser to five world champions including Pinoy Donnie Nietes.
?The rematch between them on March 15 will be a tough fight for Manny as well but not as tough,? Lewkowicz said. ?If you remember, in their first fight Marquez was down three times in the first round but he came back to win 10 out of 12 rounds. I know why Manny did so poorly that night although I know Manny will never admit it. (The fight ended in a controversial draw in 2004.)
?Manny wore some new boxing shoes. He got blisters on both feet, I think, during the fight. That hurt him a lot in that fight and he learned a lesson about using shoes that are broken in properly.?
Lewkowicz said Pacman is too much of a sportsman to cite the blisters problem.
?No, Manny is not going to ever say that to anyone. I was at the fight and I know what happened. Manny is just too proud to use any excuses. I admire Manny for that.?
I wasn’t sure if this was some long-delayed scoop or if Megammanny ever mentioned it but then I hit the Google button and discovered that Lewk was full of balogna. Pacman used the blisters and a claimed right wrist injury as excuses for not doing better against Marquez. This story has been covered ad nauseum in Pacland although it was to new to me.
But we give Sampson a free pass this time around on the Truth-O-Meter. Why so?
Because I know this about Strongman Sampson. He always toes the line and he?s never been a heel.
It was strictly shoe business, Lewkowicz said.
