CHICAGO ? Randy Arrojo is from Koronadal City, formerly Marbel, about a 30-minute drive to General Santos City the hometown of seven world division champion Manny Pacquiao.
Koronadal City became the center of the SOCCSKSARGEN region ? composed of the provinces South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.
It is in Sarangani province where Pacquiao is running for representative of the lone congressional district in the May 10 national elections.
Every time that Arrojo was in Marbel, he would visit Pacquiao in his mansion when the world?s pound-for-pound king was still residing in General Santos City. They would play billiards, which is Pacquiao?s favorite pastime.
Sizing Mayweather up Arrojo is an avid Pacquiao fan and has even scouted some of the Filipino boxing icon?s prospective opponents.
?I want to find out how Manny would measure up with his future opponents. That?s why, I?m being proactive in watching other bouts that do not even involve Manny,” said Arrojo.
A few days before the non-title welterweight bout between Floyd ?Money” Mayweather, Jr. and ?Sugar” Shane Mosley in Las Vegas, Arrojo gathered some of his friends to watch the blockbuster match in his Chicago home.
He and his friends wanted to see how the winner would size up if he meets Pacquiao. The winner is the likely candidate to face Pacquiao.
Regained composure Mosley dominated his opponent for two rounds then Mayweather took over in the third.
But Mosley failed to keep up with Mayweather, who dictated the tempo until the final bell where Michael Buffer announced the Grand Rapids native as the unanimous and still undefeated champion.
The 31-year-old Mayweather was more accurate with his blows while Mosley was tentative and was cautious with his attacks, like Joshua Clottey did against Pacquiao last March.
Mayweather?s victory over Mosley silenced Pacquiao fans that picked the 38-year-old veteran world champion as the fighter that would end the flamboyant boxer?s unbeaten streak.
Arrojo was puzzled why Mosley appeared to be holding his punches against Mayweather.
Mayweather had also demonstrated that he had some obvious chink in his armor that Pacquiao could exploit should they finally meet inside the boxing ring.
Everyone has his Achilles heel. And Arrojo is going to inform Pacquiao of Mayweather?s weak spots when ever he gets the chance to play billiards with his friend.
But unless Pacquiao agrees to Mayweather?s demand of an Olympic style blood testing, which is closer to the fight, then the most awaited fight by world boxing fans won?t push through.
Otherwise, Pacquiao will have an excuse to skip his planned megafight with Mayweather if ever he wins as Sarangani province?s representative in the 15th Philippine Congress.
A loss would mean that Pacquiao needs to regroup and reconsider Mayweather?s demand.
