FAHSAN 3K BATTERY did not look the other way as Manny Pacquiao did the punch mitt routine with trainer Freddie Roach under searing heat at the Wild Card Gym in yesterday?s press preview.
As Pacquiao struck with a left straight and a right hook, the new combination being developed by Roach for future use, a lot of people were looking at Fahsan and his handlers, wondering what would happen if one of those land squarely on the Thai fighter?s chin.
Fahsan showed some of his stuff as well. He shadow boxed, danced around the ring, hit the air with jabs, straights and hooks and then posed with the Filipino ringster.
Though he looked tough and determined, betting on fight night is still Pacquiao the overwhelming favorite to win via the short route.
The boxing cognoscenti is of the opinion that Pacquiao is going to take out Fahsan and help the referee earn R12,500 in cash without working out a sweat.
Roach even watched one of Fahsan?s fights on videotape after the workout and did not look at all alarmed by what the Thai is going to bring on the table.
“He?s good but Manny should be able to handle him. We?ll see if Manny can finish him off with his right hand instead of the left.”
Despite Fahsan?s “good left hand,” Roach remains confident the Filipinos, including President Macapagal Arroyo, are all going to rejoice on fight night.
“It doesn?t look like there?s going to be trouble,” Roach said, four days before Pacquiao clashes with Fahsan in front of a huge crowd at The Fort in Taguig.
But Fahsan is confident he can get the job done and ruin Pacquiao?s plans for 2005.
“Manny is not really in great shape I know that,” said Fahsan through his manager, Jimmy Chaichotchuang. The two arrived on Monday night.
“We are going to show the Filipino people that Fahsan has what it takes to beat even a great boxer like Manny Pacquiao,” quipped Chaichotchuang.
Pacquiao heads back to the gym today to do light workouts with Roach in tow and tomorrow, the final press conference will be staged at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas Center with promoter Murad Muhammad leading the way.
The site of the official weigh-in has been moved to the 2nd floor of the Forbes Town Center at Fort Bonifacio Global City instead of Pier One.
Meanwhile, tickets are selling briskly, according to Rod Nazario, business manager of Pacquiao.
“I don?t know how to accommodate the people who are asking me for tickets. Even the complimentary passes have all been taken away,” said Nazario.
Tickets are priced at R10,000, R5,000, R1,000 and R100 (no seat).
