Rod Nazario, Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s business manager, yesterday joined trainer Freddie Roach in telling Filipino boxing fans who idolize the Filipino ring gladiator, not to worry over reports that he appeared sluggish and slow in a sparring session for Mexican mediamen at the Wild Card Gym.
Roach said Pacquiao was “just playing,” in what was considered a ploy to throw-off the Mexicans and give Morales a false sense of security.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Manila Standard Today, Nazario, who is staying next to the Wild Card Gym, said: “What do you expect when Manny spars eight rounds? Of course, some punches will connect but that doesn’t mean he has a problem.
“Pacquiao is fine and in great shape. You’ll see,” Nazario assuaged the fears of Pacquiao’s supporters.
Boxing writer Recah Trinidad, who watched the sparring session, said that while Pacquiao worked the body well, he was “often on the receiving end of the slow right hand” of undefeated Jose Sta. Cruz, a 5-foot-8 light welterweight, who is undefeated in 18 fights.
Trinidad also reported that Sugar Ray Beltran, who had earlier told reporter Jannelle So that Pacquiao hit with tremendous power and had exceptional speed, “often had to stop punching whenever Pacquiao would balk at mid ring.”
Another correspondent Salven Lagumbay claimed that while Pacquiao was sparring “against relatively unknown fighters” like Sta Cruz, Beltran and former world title contender Justin Juuko, Erik “El Terrible” Morales was looking good against World Boxing Organization’s no. 1 featherweight Victor Polo, undefeated Steven Luevano who has a 27-0, 13 KO record and undefeated Venezuelan Edwin Valero, who has 12 wins, all coming by way of knockout.
Meantime, the original members of Team Pacquiao, boxing TV analyst Moy Lainez, longtime cornerman Lito Mondejar and boxing man Gerry Garcia, were scheduled to leave aboard a Philippine Airlines flight last night for Los Angeles where they will hook up with Nazario.
Also joining the group was this columnist, who will file stories daily as the excitement builds up towards the March 20 (Manila time) showdown in Las Vegas.
